4-time world champion John Higgins has constructed a formidable profession and fortune, however the Scottish legend has additionally confronted loss and controversy.
John Higgins has a protracted historical past with the World Snooker Championship (Picture: Getty)
John Higgins holds a distinguished place in snooker historical past as one of many sport’s largest legends since turning skilled in 1992. Commanding a formidable tally of 33 rating titles, he sits behind solely Ronnie O’Sullivan and Stephen Hendry within the all-time rankings.
The four-time world champion initially entered the highest 16 in 1995 and has remained there for over 29 years. He reached the semi-finals of this yr’s World Snooker Championship earlier than dropping to Shaun Murphy. Specific Sport appears on the Scotsman’s prolonged and eventful profession, which features a six-month ban and an acrimonious row with the BBC, whereas additionally exploring his views on retirement, his web price, and his private life…
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Ban from snooker
In 2010, Higgins was suspended after the Information of the World claimed he had agreed to intentionally lose sure frames in matches in return for cash.
He was finally exonerated by an impartial tribunal, which as an alternative attributed accountability to his former enterprise companion, Pat Mooney, who obtained a lifetime ban regardless of escaping match-fixing prices on a technicality.
Whereas Higgins was cleared of agreeing to just accept a bribe and taking part in corrupt or fraudulent conduct, he didn’t emerge solely unscathed. The snooker star was discovered responsible of failing to report an unlawful method and deliberately creating the impression that he was ready to behave in breach of betting rules.
In consequence, the Scot obtained a six-month suspension and was fined £75,000, with an extra £10,000 in prices. Vowing to return even “stronger” after his ban, Higgins described the ordeal as “traumatic” and stated: “It has been made all of the extra hurtful by the data that I by no means have, and by no means would, repair a snooker match.”
Fury with the BBC
Controversy erupted involving Higgins and the BBC after the broadcaster wrongly labelled him as English throughout a World Snooker Championship match in 2022.
Throughout a conflict with Thepchaiya Un-Nooh, the BBC displayed a St George’s Cross beside his title, leaving the passionately patriotic Scotsman livid.
He raged: “England? Am I allowed to swear? God, they higher get that modified pronto. That is poor is not it? That is actually poor from the BBC. Very poor.”
The error was swiftly corrected the subsequent day, with the Scottish flag displayed throughout protection as Higgins sealed a 10-7 victory and superior to the second spherical.
Place on retirement
Higgins, 50, reveals no signal of calling time on his profession anytime quickly. After his defeat to Kyren Wilson within the 2024 World Snooker Championship, he made clear that strolling away from the game was not into account.
John Higgins is a four-time world champion (Picture: Getty)
“I am committing to enjoying snooker now and I am committing to making an attempt to get again right here,” he defined. “I do not need that to be my remaining match on the Crucible, so I will nonetheless be enjoying snooker. I feel it [retirement] is [a long time away].
“There will be different issues taking place off the desk that may be clouding your selections, however proper now it is a good distance away. The game should retire me earlier than I retire myself, easy as that.”
Exceptional wealth
By way of monetary achievement, Higgins might not match the fortunes of a few of his closest rivals, but he nonetheless instructions a substantial web price that vastly outstrips that of most snooker gamers.
On line casino.org reported in 2024 that Higgins has amassed roughly £8.8million, positioning him because the eighth-wealthiest participant within the historical past of the game.
The web site positioned him forward of Mark Williams, who holds an estimated web price of £7.1m, whereas retired legend Steve Davis tops the rankings with an estimated £26m. Stephen Hendry follows carefully behind with £25.5m, and Ronnie O’Sullivan sits sixth with £11.2m.
Private life
Higgins has been fortunately married to his spouse, Denise, since 2010, their romance having blossomed after they first crossed paths as youngsters at Wishaw Excessive College. Denise largely stays out of the highlight, but has proved a useful supply of help all through Higgins’ profession, offering encouragement in periods when his ardour for the sport has wavered.
The couple share three kids: sons Pierce and Oliver, and daughter Claudia, who often be a part of their father at snooker occasions, notably throughout main tournaments.
Higgins endured the heartbreaking lack of his father to most cancers following a six-year battle in February 2011. He desperately tried to make his means again from Berlin, the place he had been competing within the German Masters, solely to obtain the crushing information of his father’s loss of life as he boarded a flight residence to Glasgow.
He additionally shares a deep connection along with his in-laws, as demonstrated by his emotional response following his victory over O’Connor this week, when he broke down in tears and wanted to be comforted by presenter Seema Jaswal.
Higgins overtly admitted: “That was essentially the most emotional I’ve ever been as we speak. I left my spouse and I used to be in tears. Clearly my father-in-law wasn’t nice. I used to be sitting having dinner with my boy final night time and I used to be fascinated with sitting right here with my dad 25 years in the past. I used to be drained as we speak.
“I had a few hours sleep and I got here out tonight and felt loads higher and performed loads higher. I’m nonetheless so proud that I’m nonetheless enjoying at an excellent stage at this age.”
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