World Snooker Championship 2021: 'I stopped breathing' – John Higgins conquers Crucible panic attack

ByEurosport

Updated 20/04/2021 at 08:12 GMT

Four-times Crucible champion John Higgins admits he will have to improve in the second round if he is to continue his quest for a fifth world title after completing a 10-7 win over Tian Pengfei in the first round. Higgins revealed he struggled to breathe as he trailed 7-4 at one stage before reeling off six straight frames to secure a meeting with Mark Williams or Sam Craigie in the last 16.

John Higgins overcame Tian Pengfei and a Crucible Theatre panic attack to secure a place in the last 16 of the World Championship.

The four-times world champion admitted he had "dodged a bullet" after winning the last six frames from 7-4 behind to complete a battling 10-7 win against China's world number 53.

As Tian appeared to visibly wilt under the pressure, Higgins held himself together superbly by producing closing breaks of 127 and 135 of to secure a meeting with Mark Williams or Sam Craigie in the last 16.

World Championship

Williams blows away ‘fourth son’ Page to reach last eight with session to spare

22/04/2022 at 12:20

But the Scotsman admitted the experience was far from memorable as he struggled to breathe among the balls.

World Championship LIVE - Lisowski in action before Trump takes centre stage

Higgins makes 127 break to seize control of first-round match

“That was a whole range of what I’ve been through over 27 years here. Some good, some bad, some embarrassing. I’m delighted to get through, I dodged a big bullet there,” said Higgins, champion in 1998, 2007, 2009 and 2011.

“The first round is always the most pressurised game each year. That is what I always feel. When you get that out of the way, you can relax into the tournament.

'It's amazing!' - Hendry on the longevity of O'Sullivan and Higgins

I was actually struggling to breathe at one point. I don’t know what happened, that’s just what this theatre does to you. I think I stopped breathing for a few frames, but it was good to get through.

“When you are struggling mentally it is tough. I’ll take the positives. I finished it off pretty decently with a couple of 100 breaks. I’ll try to grasp on to that and get a couple of days practising in.”

The Players champion headed back to Scotland to practise before returning to Sheffield for a potential rematch of his 2018 world final clash with Williams, which the Welshman won 18-16, on Friday.

"If I can play well I have a chance, but if I play to that standard I have no chance," he added.

- - -

You can watch every match of the World Championship live and ad-free on the Eurosport App and eurosport.co.uk. Download the Eurosport app now for iOS and Android.

World Championship

‘Knock me off my perch’ – O’Sullivan’s message to those who want him to quit

18/04/2022 at 19:06

World Championship

‘I’ve not been able to take them off!’ - O’Sullivan on his new glasses

00:00:34

|

18/04/2022 at 18:54

World Championship

‘Knock me off my perch’ – O’Sullivan dismisses retirement talk

00:00:51

|

18/04/2022 at 18:52