Masters snooker 2021 - John Higgins thrilled to beat Ronnie O'Sullivan; technique change paying off

ByAlex Livie

Updated 15/01/2021 at 23:31 GMT

John Higgins produced a blistering display to beat Ronnie O'Sullivan to reach the semi-finals of the Masters at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes. The Scot knocked in three centuries and an 88 to beat the world champion who made two tons of his own and a 97. David Gilbert is next up in the last four.

John Higgins was "over the moon” with his win over Ronnie O’Sullivan in the quarter finals of the Masters - and revealed that some intense work on his technique is starting to pay off.

The four-time world champion headed into his quarter-final at the Marshall Arena as a heavy underdog after O’Sullivan’s display against Ding Junhui in the first round, but he knocked in three centuries - including a tournament-high 145 - on his way to a 6-3 win.

He told Eurosport after the match that he could not play any better, which may be a small crumb of comfort to semi-final opponent David Gilbert.

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"Brilliant,” was his reaction to Eurosport. "I can’t play any better than that. I thought it was a great match.”

‘I can’t play any better than that’ – Higgins thrilled to beat O'Sullivan

Higgins got a lot of table time last week during the Championship League, and he felt that - along with some tweaks to his technique - was evident against O'Sullivan.

"I am the underdog against Ronnie without doubt,” he said. "But coming down to the Championship League was important to get some matches.

But I have been doing something different with my technique. Watching Mark Selby, I am trying to give myself a trigger. I am just trying to get close to the white ball.

"I have heard people say I'm too far away from the white ball and at the point of contact I am too far away and losing power.

"So I'm trying to get closer with my bridge hand and my tip and it's giving me a trigger like a golfer, and it's paying off."

Higgins impressed at the Championship League, where he won four of his six league matches before beating Tom Ford in the Table 1 play-off and crushing Kyren Wilson 3-0 in the group final.

But he says that this week - against other top-ranked players - will be the true test of his form.

"I am delighted with the way I played," he said. "I am over the moon. You can do it in a few matches, but you want to do it against the best as that is how you judge yourself.”

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