JOHN HIGGINS has revealed he has a burning question for Ronnie O’Sullivan
Snooker‘s greatest player is still going strong and winning titles at the age of 49, although he has pulled out of multiple tournaments over the last few months.
Higgins has been blown away by the ability of O’Sullivan – and Mark Williams – to keep winning titles so close to their 50s.
And he’s itching to know how the pair are doing it, although he won’t be asking them anytime soon.
He said: “I am still in there fighting with the likes of Mark and Ronnie, two great players.
“I will be brutally honest, they are the only two guys I would probably want to sit down with and ask the question.
“‘How does it feel to still be up there at the top of the game at 49-50?’.
“Nobody else has done it in the game, but you cannot really ask them that as they are still rivals with you. It’s a difficult one. It’s tough, but also enjoyable.”
Higgins, 49, ended his four-year trophy drought last weekend with a 10-6 win over Joe O’Conner in the World Open final.
He said of his triumph: “This is massive. At 49, people would be thinking I would never get there again.
“The spin-offs of winning a big Chinese money event can establish you for the next couple of years.
“It takes the pressure off. This has given me a lot of confidence.
[bc_video account_id=”5067014667001″ application_id=”” aspect_ratio=”16:9″ autoplay=”” caption=”Ronnie O’Sullivan blown away by Judd Trump’s ‘wow’ moment at the Masters ” embed=”in-page” experience_id=”” height=”100%” language_detection=”” max_height=”360px” max_width=”640px” min_width=”0px” mute=”” padding_top=”56%” picture_in_picture=”” player_id=”default” playlist_id=”” playsinline=”” sizing=”responsive” video_id=”6367387214112″ video_ids=”” width=”640px”]“I know I am always classed with those two guys [O’Sullivan and Williams], two unbelievable champions who have been in the top eight and winning big events. I was admiring them.
“To get a win for myself and put myself back in to be mentioned with those two guys is special.”
Higgins will be back in action on Tuesday, taking on Ali Carter in his World Grand Prix opener.
And he’s finding it weird going into a competition on the back of a tournament triumph having gone so long without a scoop.
He said: “It has been a long time since I have won a big event.
“So to win this and then roll to the next one, I am not used to it.
“I really don’t know how I will feel on Tuesday. It could help me or I could run into a brick wall.
“Hopefully, it will reinforce a bit of confidence in myself, which if I am honest, has been lacking for the last few years.
“I still felt I had played good stuff. The deciding-frame defeats, it does knock the stuffing out of you a bit.
“I have been honest enough to say that. I am just delighted.”