ON CUE
I’m a 4-time world snooker champion but haven’t won an event for almost FOUR YEARS – but I have titles left in the tank
He's closing-in on what could be a first title since 2021
HUNGRY John Higgins believes a long-awaited 32nd ranking title is on the horizon after he lived to fight another day at the International Championship.
The four-time world champion forced a decider on a re-spotted black before being hauled off for slow play at 5-5 as he secured his quarter-final spot with a dramatic 6-5 win over Lyu Haotian in Nanjing.
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Wishaw’s finest turns 50 next year but still has the burning determination that has unquestionably made him an all-time great of the sport.
Higgins has painfully come up short of success in recent years, with his last ranking crown coming at the 2021 Players Championship.
And the Scot, who lost in the British Open final earlier this season, needs to lift the title this week to qualify for next week’s Champion of Champions.
But he stressed: “I do believe there are titles left in the tank.
“I do think I will be tasting silverware again before I finish. That’s maybe the reason I’m still doing it.
“You never know what’s around the corner for you. You’ve just got to keep believing, keep putting the work it as much as you can at my age.”
Higgins won the first frame but had to fight back from 3-1 and 5-4 down to send the match to a decider with breaks of 54, 60 and 71.
And after winning the tenth frame on a re-spotted black, Higgins returned in the evening with a cool match-clinching run of 68.
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Meanwhile, Judd trump failed to reach a quarter-final for the first time this year as he was stunned 6-4 by maximum man Xu Si.
World champion Kyren Wilson hit three century breaks to beat Barry Hawkins 6-2.
Watch moment snooker legend John Higgins gets standing ovation for reaching incredible milestone and opponent joins in
Meanwhile, seven-time former world champion Stephen Hendry reckons he could have won a lot more himself - had he 'reined in' his attacking instincts.
The 55-year old dominated the game during the 1990s, but ended up going on a SEVEN-YEAR spell without a ranking title between 2005 and 2012.
Hendry said: “Even when me game was on a downward trajectory I still played the same game.
“I still insisted on going for my shots. I would think it was the right shot and kept going for it and kept missing them.
“If I’d have reined it in in the early to mid noughties I could have had success.
“Whether I’d have won a couple of words titles more I don’t know. But I certainly would have been more competitive for longer.
“The game’s changed. I see people turning down pots that I’d be taking on, but it’s because you get punished if you miss.
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“Back when I first started playing that was my game. I was more aggressive than guys likes Si Jiahui."
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