Higgins strikes for snooker's old guard with record Welsh Open win

John Higgins and the old guard are on the march in the build-up to next month’s World Snooker Championships, writes Tom Harle in Cardiff.

Higgins ensured he will arrive at the Crucible brimming with confidence after a record fifth victory at the Welsh Open.

And he may just find his biggest rivals are a pair of fellow 42-year old’s — Ronnie O’Sullivan and Mark Williams.

Between the three of them they’ve won all but one of snooker’s Home Nations Series events this season, with Scot Higgins beating Barry Hawkins 9-7 to win in Cardiff.

This was his 30th ranking tournament victory, a second of the season, closing in fast on O’Sullivan’s haul of 32. It also meant the Wizard of Wishaw eclipsed O’Sullivan’s record as the Cardiff event’s most decorated competitor.

“Mark, Ronnie and I have probably driven ourselves on over the years,” admitted Higgins, after collecting the £70,000 winner’s cheque.

“When you are in your mid-20s you never want them to win but it changes as you get older and you get your families.

“When you see guys still playing well, you’re actually happy because you know you’ve been a competitor with them and shared those great rivalries. It makes you feel good.

“Me, Mark and Ronnie have had great careers and I’m sure we’ll keep doing it over the foreseeable future too.”

But Higgins, playing in his 47th ranking final, admitted there have been moments in recent months when he wondered whether he would win again.

Prior to this victory, his most recent win was in India last August, before that he’d suffered two final losses, at last year’s World Championships and the previous year’s Scottish Open.

“I have been a little bit down on myself, in private moments, thinking ‘that was another good chance to win’ when I go out of tournaments,” he added.

“I’ve proven I’m still capable of winning events which is great. Who knows how many more I can win, I’ve managed to win two this year.

“It gives me confidence going into the last few tournaments. I want to be trying to win the Masters, the UK Championships or the Worlds again. I’ve not won one of those for seven or eight years, so that’s got to be an aim for me.

“It feels great and that’s one of the most enjoyable finals I’ve ever played in, a really high standard and hopefully entertaining.

“This game is about fractions and the numbers were on my side this time but Barry could have easily won this and I’d have had no complaints.

“I really felt some big time nerves out there, it doesn’t matter how long you play the game, you are always going to feel it a match like that.

“It means so much to win a 30th ranking tournament but hopefully there are many more to come because I think I’m still playing some of my best snooker.”

In the end experience at the sharp end of tournaments was decisive, with Hawkins wearing a look of resignation as Higgins pounced on critical errors at the wrong time, coming from behind on three occasions, including a break of 138, his tenth century of the week.

“He’s one of the all-time greats. I tried my hardest and threw what I could at him,” admitted Hawkins.

“I just feel gutted, you can’t give John opportunities and you can’t let him off.”

• Watch the Welsh Open LIVE on Eurosport, Eurosport Player and Quest with Andy Goldstein and analysis from Jimmy White and Neal Foulds