John Higgins admits 'it is difficult' dealing with Ronnie O'Sullivan Class of 92 comparisons
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Updated 15/12/2023 at 23:02 GMT
John Higgins battled his way into the semi-finals of the Scottish Open with 5-3 win over Tom Ford at the Meadowbank Sports Centre on Friday evening, and is now just two victories away from winning the title on home soil. Higgins has never won the Scottish Open, he has twice lost in finals, and is determined to give it his best shot in Edinburgh at the weekend.
‘It would be amazing’ - John Higgins sets sights on Scottish Open title on home soil
John Higgins has admitted it is tough living in the shadow of fellow class of 92 alumnus Ronnie O’Sullivan.
O’Sullivan is the current world No. 1 and showed he has plenty left in the tank when winning the UK Championship for an eighth time earlier in December.
Mark Williams is the third of the fabled Class of 92, and the Welshman showed his mettle with victory in the British Open earlier in the season.
Higgins’ only titles in the past couple of seasons have been at the Championship League, and he has suffered heartbreaking losses in finals.
The Scottish Open on home soil hands Higgins the chance at a ranking title, and he battled into the semi-finals with victory over Tom Ford on Friday evening.
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‘Superb’ - Higgins makes 132 total clearance in first frame of Scottish Open quarter-final
It was a scrappy performance, but Higgins was happy to get through - albeit he admitted it was tough being compared to O’Sullivan, who was alongside the Scot working as a pundit for Eurosport.
“It is that we are in the era you (O’Sullivan) are in and you are still winning the big events,” Higgins told Eurosport. “I am getting judged on that and if he is not around and I am still playing to this level at 48 people would be saying it’s a remarkable achievement.
“But you are up against this guy in the same age group, he is a one-off, so it is difficult, but I still believe I am doing okay for who I am.”
Higgins has never won the Scottish Open - he has two losses in finals on his record - and is striving to win only a second ranking title on home soil.
“I think I have only ever won one tournament in Scotland (the 2008 Grand Prix),” Higgins said. “So it would be amazing to try and win here.
“It was a big win for me as I have lost a few times to Tom and he is such an improved player. His head does not really go like it used to. He is a top, top player so it is a big win for me.”
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