Revealed: How dinner with his theatre student son, 20, sparked snooker star John Higgins' TV tears, as he breaks down in another interview opening up on family heartache

Emotional Crucible Run for John Higgins at Snooker World Championship

Sheffield – The Snooker World Championship has become a deeply personal and emotional journey for veteran player John Higgins, with the four-time champion visibly moved during his Easter Monday night match. Higgins, a celebrated figure in snooker, navigated a tense and emotionally charged encounter against Joe O’Connor, securing a 10-7 victory to advance to the last 16 of the prestigious tournament held at the Crucible Theatre.

Family Concerns Weigh on Higgins

The esteemed Scottish player is currently grappling with family anxieties, stemming from his father-in-law’s recent heart attack. This family emergency has meant his wife is absent from the Crucible during this World Championship.

Son’s Support Triggers Tears

However, Higgins has found support in his second son, Oliver, who is in Sheffield to offer encouragement. Recounting a dinner they shared on Sunday, Higgins became choked with emotion during a television interview. The memories evoked by this time with his son are particularly poignant as Higgins lost his own father, John Sr., to cancer in February 2011 after a prolonged illness.

Reflecting on dinner with his son Oliver the previous evening stirred profound emotions in Higgins.

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“Totally Drained” But Resilient

Speaking to TNT Sports after his victory, Higgins disclosed, “There was a moment last night when I was sitting with my boy [Oliver], he’s going down to London to study for a few months.” He continued, “It brought back numerous memories from 20 years ago, sitting with my dad. This morning, on my way here, I was in tears, overwhelmed by different thoughts. I felt utterly drained.”

Despite his emotional state, Higgins managed to secure a 5-4 scoreline in the first session against a strong-playing O’Connor. “To get out of the first session 5-4 was a positive outcome as Joe was playing exceptionally well,” Higgins admitted. “I returned to my apartment, went straight to bed, and had two hours of sleep, which was the most restorative sleep I’ve had in years. I felt significantly improved tonight.”

Second Display of Vulnerability

This instance marked the second occasion Higgins has publicly revealed his emotional vulnerability on television, having previously shown his feelings earlier in the tournament.

Turning the Tide Against O’Connor

The 49-year-old appeared unsettled during the initial session against O’Connor, trailing 5-4. However, he demonstrated resilience in the subsequent session, reversing the momentum. Higgins acknowledged that he was contending with intense emotions throughout the match.

After narrowly taking a 6-5 lead, Higgins achieved a notable breakthrough with a century break in the 12th frame.

While his opponent, O’Connor, who narrowly missed achieving a 147 maximum break earlier in the day, rallied to level the score at 7-7, the seasoned Scot demonstrated his experience by winning the final three frames to secure the match.

“Most Emotional Day”

“That was the most emotional day I have ever experienced,” Higgins confessed to BBC Sport, visibly overcome with emotion, after mentioning his pre-tournament Tour Championship win. His participation in this year’s competition had been uncertain leading up to his opening match.

Pre-Tournament Absence

Due to the family emergency, Higgins was absent from the Green Carpet ceremony preceding the tournament, as well as the pre-event media day, choosing to remain in Scotland during this challenging time.

Round of 16 Clash Awaits

Higgins is now set to compete against China’s Xiao Guodong in the Round of 16, continuing his quest to make further history at the Crucible this year.

If the 49-year-old progresses to win the World Championship, he will become the competition’s oldest ever champion.

O’Connor’s “Bizarre” Tactical Decision

Higgins’ emotional victory unfolded during an unusual match against O’Connor, marked by a perplexing decision from his less experienced rival that offered Higgins a significant advantage.

After failing to escape a snooker, the favourite Higgins unintentionally struck the pink ball while playing with pace, leaving the cue ball in a difficult position.

According to the rules, O’Connor had the option to request Higgins to retake the shot, as he had not missed the target ball. This would have presented a very challenging shot for Higgins. However, O’Connor opted to take on the shot himself.

Facing a tricky pink ball, O’Connor’s gamble backfired. He missed the shot, granting Higgins a prime opportunity to clinch the frame. Veteran commentator Steve Davis expressed bewilderment at O’Connor’s choice.

Davis’ Commentary Highlights Confusion

“The thing I cannot fathom is why Joe did not instruct John to replay the shot?” Davis questioned during his commentary.

“It’s not a foul and a miss because snookers were required. John executed the shot with pace, resulting in the cue ball ending up in a problematic position.”

“Joe could have opted to say, ‘you play that shot.’ It was a perplexing decision.”

“Under pressure, players sometimes deviate from making the optimal tactical choice, particularly concerning positional play. Forgoing the opportunity to put your opponent back in was an uncharacteristic error. He effectively sacrificed the safety exchange.”

“Conventionally, John would have been expected to be asked to replay the shot.”