Scottish snooker legend John Higgins has sensationally revealed he could quit the sport if he falls out of the elite top 16 next season.
The 47-year-old saw his dreams of a magical fifth World Championship, 25 years on from his first, shattered 13-7 by Mark Selby in the quarter-finals. World No 11 Higgins endured a miserable season by his own sky-high standards with his run to the last eight only his second quarter-final appearance.
The all-conquering Scot has over £300,000 in prize money to defend next term and another poor campaign could see him plummet out of the 16 for the first time since way back in 1995. Higgins had hammered David Grace 10-3 and then Kyren Wilson 13-2 with a session to spare, which included an 8-0 whitewashed first session. But honest Higgins reflected: “It’s been a poor season, there’s no getting away from that.
“I’ll definitely have to come back next year and produce a better standard and have a better season. If not it will look like I’m probably falling out of the top 16, then when you do that, there could be a few questions in my own mind, I suppose. We’ll need to wait and see (if that means retirement) next year.”
The Wishaw Wizard has regularly reached low ebbs with his game in the past. It’s the frustration inside him after poor performances which makes Higgins one of the game’s greatest winners.
The Scot has pocketed 31 ranking titles in an esteemed three-decade spell at the top of the sport. It was only last season that he reached FIVE major ranking finals. And just a few years ago he made three straight Crucible showpieces; between 2017-2019.
But the heartache of those constant near misses understandably lingers on for proven winner Higgins. Higgins labelled Selby an "animal" after their clash and Selby returned the favour with some praise of his own. He's adamant the Scot still has plenty to offer the sport and could still scale the Crucible mountain once more.
“It’s tough when you lose matches, especially in this tournament,” admitted Selby. "When you’re speaking to you guys (media) after a loss a lot of it is heat of the moment stuff.
“You’ve only got to look a couple of days ago, he played unbelievable against Kyren. You can’t become a bad player overnight. I wouldn’t take too much into that. He’s a class act, he’ll be back and there’s no reason he can’t win this again.”
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