Welsh Open 2024: John Higgins can add ‘six or seven years’ to career by ‘trying new things’, says Ronnie O’Sullivan

Updated 13/02/2024 at 20:23 GMT

Ronnie O’Sullivan says snooker players need to “try new things” in a similar way to “football clubs hiring a new manager”. The seven-time World Champion believes John Higgins can prolong his career after he started to see a sports psychologist to help with the mental side of his game. “You’ve always got to be open to trying new things. I think it will add another five, six, or seven good years.”

'It'll add five, six, seven good years' - O'Sullivan on why Higgins trying new things will help

Ronnie O’Sullivan feels John Higgins can add “six or seven good years” to his career by “trying new things”.

Higgins is the most decorated player at the Welsh Open with five titles, but the 48-year-old has only won one ranking event in the last six years - the Players Championship in 2018.

The Scotsman was open about seeing a sports psychologist last year to help with the mental side of his game as he looks to get back to competing for the top honours.

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O’Sullivan, who has dealt with mental struggles during his career in a similar way, explained that snooker players need to regularly switch things up in order to progress.

“John is so reliable so strong,” the seven-time World Champion told Eurosport.

“It’s been well documented that he’s working with someone to help with his mental side and doing something like that can give you a little bit of impetus, just what you need.

“You’ve always got to be open to trying new things. I just think it will probably add another five, six, or seven good years on to his career.

“It’s like a football club having a new manager, sometimes a snooker player needs a new cue, a new practice routine or a new way of doing things.

“Having that will keep him fresh, get him excited and it’s a new thing.”

Alan McManus says Higgins has “gone in a different direction” in comparison to recent years, and does not believe he is far away from getting his hands on some silverware.

“I’m glad he’s had a go at it because John, traditionally down the years, his was of changing things up has been changing cues,” he told Eurosport.

“Sometimes it has worked and sometimes it hasn’t, so he’s gone in a slightly different direction.

“What it also does is keep you keen. The fact he’s travelling up and down the country right now, playing tons of matches and being successful for the most part, gives him a lot of hope for the rest of the season.

“He’s desperate to win a big [trophy] and just stand there with the silverware above his head again. I’m sure he will if he keeps playing the way he is.”

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