John Higgins ‘the most emotional he’s ever felt’ as he walked to Crucible match in tears

An emotional few days caught up with John Higgins as he walked to his clash with Joe O’Connor in tears, but he dealt with the situation admirably, emerging with a 10-7 win at the Crucible.

The Wizard of Wishaw’s preparation for the World Championship was rocked as his father-in-law suffered a heart attack last week.

Thankfully his health stabilised and has improved, but emotions were still running high for Higgins in Sheffield.

As the 49-year-old spent time with his son, memories came back of his trips to Sheffield at his son’s age with his own father, who has now sadly passed away.

It was a deluge of feelings for the four-time world champion, so much so that he left for the Crucible on Monday morning in tears.

Unsurprisingly he was not at his best in the first session against O’Connor, but he played well in the evening and booked his place in the second round.

‘That was the most emotional I think I’ve ever been today,’ he told the BBC. ‘I left my apartment, I was in tears. Obviously my father-in-law wasn’t great.

‘You’re just thinking about…I was having dinner with my boy last night and I’m thinking I can remember sitting here with my dad 25 years ago. Just things go through your mind.

‘I was drained today, but then I had a couple of hours sleep and I came out and felt better and I played better.

‘You’ve been here for so long and got so many memories. I’m still so proud I’m still playing to a good level at this age, I really am. I’m just delighted to be in the next round.’

Higgins made his debut at the Crucible 30 years ago, so it is unsurprising that the surrounding areas bring back countless memories, both joyful and painful.

He added in a post-match press conference: ‘Last night where I was sitting with my boy, he’s going to go down to London from here now for another few months, studying down there.

‘It was just bringing so many memories back when I was sitting with my dad 20-odd years ago. This morning I was coming over and I was in tears. Thinking of different things, and I was totally drained today.

‘I think it’s maybe because I’ve been around for so long, I’ve got so many years. I came here when I was 18-19 with my dad. When you fast forward that it’s nearly 31 years and I’m a father with my son who’s maybe the same age.

‘In other sports you maybe don’t have that crossing over, you’d be retired, but just now I’m still competing at the top level and got those memories, thinking, God I was sitting here with my own dad.

‘I look the exact same as my dad as well, I probably talk and walk like my dad, so it’s just one of them things.’

Asked whether he could use those emotions as inspiration, he said: ‘Tonight absolutely. Tonight I came out a different player as if I want to make them proud.

‘After having a good last few months I don’t want to go out with a whimper, I wanted to take it to Joe and I felt I had the game that could do that. I’m delighted.’

O’Connor had led 5-3 at one stage and left disappointed that he could not capitalise on his chances to extend his lead.

‘He seemed to nick the crucial frames,’ said the Englishman. ‘Bit disappointed really, felt like I was the better scorer, the better player in the balls, but credit to John, he’s a legend and he never gives up.

‘The last couple of months my game has been right at the top of the game. I feel that’s where I belong, I feel it’s coming out now and I can continue that and climb up the rankings.’

Higgins goes on to face Xiao Guodong in the last 16 at the Crucible.