Scottish snooker star John Higgins has reacted to the BBC mistakenly labelling him English at the World Snooker Championship.
In a graphic displayed by the broadcaster ahead of Higgins' first-round clash with Thailand's Thepchaiya Un-Nooh, an English flag was shown next to his name instead of a Scottish one. And when the error was put to him after the match, Higgins replied: "England?!
"Am I allowed to swear? God, they better get that changed pronto. That's poor isn't it? That's really poor from the BBC, very poor."
IMG production did apologise to Higgins for the blunder, saying: "It was a mistake on a graphic which was prepared at short notice and was rectified immediately for further use. We apologise to John for the mistake."
Higgins went on to win the match 10-7, mounting an impressive comeback after twice falling behind. "I didn't lose any sleep at being 5-4 behind overnight," Higgins said.
"I hope Jamie doesn’t mind me saying it but I had my Jamie Burnett moment when I screwed in off the black. At that moment I felt numb.
"It was as if someone came and took me out of my own body. That's when some crazy thoughts go through your mind and you wonder if you're still playing this game anymore.
"I'm delighted I stood up a little bit at the end there to get through." Higgins will now face Thailand's Noppon Saengkham in the second round after he beat Luca Brecel 10-5.
"It's always more nerve-racking in the first round because you just want to get through and get into the tournament," Higgins added. "I feel as if I am hitting the ball well at the moment, that can get better the longer I stay in the event."
