World Grand Prix: John Higgins enjoys ‘stunning' Hong Kong after banishing ‘negative energy'
The four-time world snooker champion John Higgins said he had survived a constant battle with 'negative thoughts and negative energy' to embark on his nine-match winning run in mainland China and Hong Kong.
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An immaculate Higgins beat world No 2 Kyren Wilson 4-2 at Kai Tak Arena on Thursday to advance to Friday's World Grand Prix quarter-finals.
Last week, Higgins won the World Open in Yushan to end a four-year trophy drought. The 49-year-old, who has won 32 ranking titles, had lost his previous five finals. In 2021, he was beaten 9-8, from 8-6 up, in both the Northern Ireland Open and English Open finals. The following year, he surrendered the last six frames of the Tour Championship final to lose 10-9 to Neil Robertson.
Higgins, who compiled a tournament-high 143 break against Wilson, told the Post: 'As you get older, you have more negative thoughts and more negative energy inside you, so it's a constant battle to try to get over the winning line.
'[After winning World Open] last week, things have lifted. I'm enjoying snooker, and wanting to play. Before, I was waiting for bad things to happen, which is no use, especially at this level where all players are animals on the table.'
Higgins breaks off during his win over Mark Davis at the 2025 World Open in Yushan. Photo: Xinhua
World No 8 Higgins, who overcame Ali Carter 4-3 in round one, said talking to a sports psychologist last year had 'helped a little bit'.
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