John Higgins was placed on the spot by BBC pundit Steve Davis throughout a stay interview on the World Snooker Championship.
Steve Davis put John Higgins on the spot throughout his post-match interview (Picture: BBC)
John Higgins laughed off a query from Steve Davis after reserving his spot within the final 16 of the World Snooker Championship as he was put below the microscope. The Scot, ranked fifth on the earth, defeated qualifier Ali Carter 10-7 at The Crucible to progress to the second spherical for the twelfth yr in a row. It units up a mouthwatering potential showdown between Higgins and seven-time world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan, his long-time rival, over the weekend.
However O’Sullivan should first overcome He Guoqiang, the 25-year-old Chinese language participant making his Crucible debut this yr. He upset world No.18 Jack Lisowski within the remaining spherical of qualifying and can be no gimme for O’Sullivan, who solely has eight wins below his belt in 2026. Higgins sat down with the BBC’s Hazel Irvine, Ken Doherty and Davis moments after dumping Carter out. And the 50-year-old, bidding to win a fifth world title this yr, mentioned: “I’ve had an important season. I am unable to complain. There’s each probability I might be taking part in Ronnie within the subsequent spherical, which might be an important event. We have been there for therefore a few years. I might like to play him on the market once more.”
Davis then interjected to ask: “Or would you somewhat play his opponent?” Higgins laughed as Davis held out an imaginary microphone below his mouth, and had no actual response to the plain insinuation that China’s He would symbolize a neater take a look at within the subsequent stage of the £2.3million match.
However after a short pause, Higgins continued: “No pay attention, you are taking part in one of many best ever. It might be an important match if he comes by and we play over three classes. The household have not come down, however they’re going to all come down for that sport. That is a particular sport. It’d by no means occur once more! If Ronnie does get by, it’s going to be an important day.”
The Wizard of Wishaw added on his victory towards Carter: “I believed it was sport. I simply handed Ali doing an interview, he mentioned each time I missed, I acquired away with it. If he did not fluke the blue, I might’ve been 5-1 in entrance after which I am in charge of the sport.
“Hear there’s no one within the sport who has extra respect for Ali as a cueist and as a participant than me. He is performed towards me so many instances and he is been flawless. He cues the ball stunning. The essential body was 8-6.
“I did not have sleep final night time to be brutally trustworthy! However I have been right here so many instances. I noticed Alan McManus this morning and I simply mentioned, ‘I’ve seen every part right here.’ It will get more durable, surely.”
“He’ll let you know himself it was a extremely good match, a good match and it was just a bit little bit of kind made the distinction however that’s snooker and that’s the reason we like it.”
Ought to Higgins meet O’Sullivan in spherical two, will probably be the eightieth time they’ve performed each other with the Rocket profitable 41 of these earlier contests. Six of these conferences have come on the Crucible, the newest in 2022 when O’Sullivan received 12-11 to achieve the ultimate, the place he defeated Judd Trump to hitch Stephen Hendry on seven world titles.
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