{"id":8394,"date":"2026-04-28T20:56:25","date_gmt":"2026-04-28T20:56:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news678.top\/?p=8394"},"modified":"2026-04-28T20:56:25","modified_gmt":"2026-04-28T20:56:25","slug":"john-higgins-looking-to-take-a-leaf-out-of-his-class-of-92-rivals-book","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news678.top\/?p=8394","title":{"rendered":"John Higgins looking to take a leaf out of his Class of 92 rival’s book"},"content":{"rendered":"

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John Higgins is bringing a more chilled vibe to the game these days (Picture: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

John Higgins has been changing his outlook on the game over the last couple of years, feeling more like his old rival Mark Williams as his career goes on.<\/p>\n

The Wizard of Wishaw turns 51 next month but is still going strong, competing among the world\u2019s best on the baize.<\/p>\n

The Scot is into the quarter-finals of the World Championship, where he is scrapping it out with Neil Robertson at the Crucible.<\/p>\n

The Australian has taken a 5-3 lead after a stodgy first session on Tuesday afternoon, but there is an awful long way to go in their race to 13 over two more sessions on Wednesday.<\/p>\n

Higgins has come through two tough contests already in Sheffield, beating Ali Carter 10-7 in round one before edging Ronnie O\u2019Sullivan 13-12 in a thrilling clash which finished on Monday afternoon.<\/p>\n

Helping him to pick up these brilliant results in his sixth decade is a new attitude he has adopted recently, trying to relax, enjoy the game more and take the intensity out of it.<\/p>\n

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You’re in the right place. I’m Phil Haigh, and I cover the game we all love for Metro<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

In my new newsletter, The Table, I’ll be analysing the biggest talking points, breaking down frames and crowning the week’s winners and losers every Monday.<\/p>\n

The World Championship is here, so there’s no better time to sign up.<\/p>\n

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Phil has been reporting on snooker for over a decade, since working in World Snooker’s press office in 2012<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

The four-time world champion is a very different character to his relaxed Class of 92 rival Mark Williams, but he is adopting the Welshman\u2019s chilled out approach and it is paying off.<\/p>\n

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Mark Williams has a famously relaxed approach to his career (Picture: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u2018I\u2019m just trying to be chilled,\u2019 he said. \u2018I\u2019ll be honest, I think in the last year or two I really do think there\u2019s been a mental shift in my own thinking. I think I was maybe holding on in the last few years to the intense way of thinking.<\/p>\n

\u2018But now in the last couple of years, it\u2019s as if I\u2019ve been trying to go all Mark Williams. I don\u2019t know. It\u2019s just the way it is. The family is down and just enjoy it with them and just enjoy it more.\u2019<\/p>\n

Higgins painted a composed figure after coming through a dramatic battle with the Rocket, not bubbling with excitement despite the epic come-from-behind victory having trailed 9-4.<\/p>\n

\u2018I just try and not be elated, I\u2019m really just sitting here calm, I\u2019m thinking great win, but it\u2019s forgot,\u2019 he said in the post-match press conference.<\/p>\n

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Higgins has been loving his Crucible run so far (Picture: Shutterstock)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u2018I need to get home, rest, have food and then just get ready for the next two days.\u2019<\/p>\n

Higgins admitted he was anything but calm and composed early in the match with the Rocket, admitting that the incredible atmosphere in the Crucible on Saturday night got to him.<\/p>\n

With the clash between him and Ronnie on one table and Williams facing Barry Hawkins on the other, the walk-ons were special moments in Sheffield.<\/p>\n

The Wizard was a bit spellbound by the occasion, falling 6-2 behind in the evening session on Saturday.<\/p>\n

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Higgins is bidding to become the oldest Crucible champion (Picture: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u2018I\u2019ll be brutally honest, the ovation we got and the whole walking in, it threw me,\u2019 said Higgins. \u2018That\u2019s not a slight on Rob [Walker] because he got it that it might not happen again, me, Mark and Ronnie, but I just felt I was like a rabbit with the headlights a little bit.<\/p>\n

\u2018I\u2019m maybe not that character, I think maybe Ronnie could thrive off it and he just settled down right away and I\u2019m thinking: Wow, it just felt everything enclosed in me, it really did. But that\u2019s just what this place can do to you, that was incredible, it really was all the way through the match, it really was incredible.\u2019<\/p>\n

Higgins and Robertson play their final two sessions on Wednesday morning and evening.<\/p>\n

Arrow<\/title>\n<\/svg>MORE: Neil Robertson names his top three snooker players of all-time<\/span><\/p>\n

Arrow<\/title>\n<\/svg>MORE: Ding Junhui predicts next Chinese snooker superstar after Zhao Xintong<\/span><\/p>\n

Arrow<\/title>\n<\/svg>MORE: Judd Trump makes world number one admission after early Crucible exit<\/span><\/p>\n
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The Table<\/h4>\n

Stay ahead of snooker’s next big break with Metro’s resident expert Phil Haigh in his new weekly newsletter.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

John Higgins looking to take a leaf out of his Class of 92 rival’s book
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#John #Higgins #leaf #Class #rivals #book<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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