Scots snooker legend eyes another world championship – despite suffering heart-breaking loss as he approaches 50
The world number three still has his eyes on the prize
NIFTY AT 50 Scots snooker legend eyes another world championship – despite suffering heart-breaking loss as he approaches 50
JOHN HIGGINS will head for Dallas to mark his 50th birthday — and revel in the fact he retains his place at snooker's top table.
Scotland's four-time world champion reached the half-century this week.
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John Higgins in action
Credit: Alamy
The snooker circuit is hectic but there is time off now after the Crucible, where Higgins lost to Mark Williams in the quarter-finals — on the last ball of the last frame of a 13-12 defeat.
This time last year there were concerns Higgins might call it quits and hang up his professional cue.
But having won two tournaments this year — the World Open and the Tour Championship — after the agony of five straight defeats in ranking finals, there is renewed optimism for next term.
Higgins said: 'There's no getting away from it, to be up the top still is a great achievement.
'When I think about the players who went before, they never really did that. We are in a stronger era as well, with tougher competition. I have to give myself a pat on the back for that.
'There were more ups-and-downs than any other season in a long time. When I take stock of it all, it is probably the best season I've had in more than six or seven years.
'I have to be thankful for that. I had a good run at the World Championship but fell to a good game with Mark Williams. I can't complain.
'I think it would be good to try and win another title in my 50s. I've won in my teens, my 20s, my 30s, my 40s and it would be good to go one further.
That would be a great achievement.'
Wife Denise will whisk Higgo off to Texas for his birthday and he added: 'I love the history. There's the Grassy Knoll, the book depository and all the things. I can't wait to see it all.'
Celtic-daft snooker ace John Higgins aims brutal dig at Rangers after Hoops' title triumph
Higgins also recently took part in the Helsinki International Snooker Cup.
The Scot lost in the quarter-final to world number 17, Ali Carter.
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