John Higgins Back Where He Belongs after Ending Title Drought at World Open

They say class is permanent and that is true of John Higgins — who is back where he belongs among snooker’s elite after he ended four years of heartache at the World Open over the weekend. 

The four-time world champion was proud as punch after getting himself back in the sport’s winners’ enclosure with a special 10-6 victory over Joe O’Connor in Yushan. 

It has been a long and painful journey for one of the sport’s all-time greats to get back on top. 

Higgins has long been heralded as one of the mentally toughest players to ever pick up a cue, but even he admitted the tough defeats had taken their toll in recent times and honestly stated he had developed “mental fragilities”. 

The 49-year-old has always been brutally honest over the years and he doubted whether he had what it took to secure silverware again. 

But the determined Wizard of Wishaw hauled himself off the canvas many times in his quest to get his hands on a treasured 32nd ranking title and one that will surely rank among the most satisfying of his illustrious three-decade-plus career.

Having been among the core of journalists who sat in heartbroken press conferences during three successive world final defeats (2017-19), three straight final defeats — and four in five events — during the 2021-22 campaign and the infamous 10-9 defeat, from 9-4 up, to Neil Robertson at the Tour Championship in 2022, it was a joy to see the pure delight radiating in Higgins’ smile when we spoke on Saturday.

On behalf of the snooker world, we are delighted to see you back. It was never in doubt. 

“It’s a really proud moment for me,” beamed evergreen Higgins.

“I’m in honest, I didn’t know if I was going to win an event again. I’m not sure if I had the belief. But I always hoped it would happen again. I always believed I was good enough to do it," he told SportsBoom.com. 

“Hopefully this will give me the confidence going forward. It’s a really special moment for me. It feels amazing to win again.”

HIGGINS ROLLS BACK YEARS 

For those who have followed the sport over the years, his title triumph was pure granite Higgins. 

He turned on the style in matches against Mark Davis, 5-1 with two centuries and Pang Junxu, 5-0 with four breaks over 80. 

But the comeback victories over Zhou Yuelong, 5-4 from 4-2 down, in the last 16 and Zak Surety, 6-5 from 5-3 behind and 41-0 adrift in the decider, in the semi-finals would have given the Scottish great the confidence he could win tournaments again. 

They even earned rare clenched fists through gritted teeth once completing the job.

“The first frame was massive winning it on the black,” added Higgins.

“Joe had a couple of chances and missed the blacks and potted a really good black which settled me down.”

“He’s had a great tournament this week. He’s played great. He maybe didn’t bring his A game to the final.”

“I have been on the end of so many tight ones lately. The Zhou Yuelong game could be a turning point for me, to come back to win that decider gave me a bit more confidence that I can handle it in deciders.”

Aged 49 and 249 days, Higgins became the second oldest player in history to win a ranking title. Only the late Ray Reardon (50 years and 14 days) was older.

Only long-term rival Ronnie O’Sullivan (41) and compatriot Stephen Hendry (36) have won more ranking titles than Higgins.

And there is no rest for the Wishaw Wizard, who faces Ali Carter at the 32-player World Grand Prix on Tuesday.

Whatever happens in Hong Kong, where wife Denise will be by his side, Higgins will enjoy an emotional reunion to his children in Scotland once again a champion.