John Higgins produces the highest break of German Masters before his withdrawal – Snooker news
The wizard of Wishaw, John Higgins, the world’s number one ranking player produced the highest break at 143 before his withdrawal from the German Masters 2011 tournament held at Berlin, Germany.
His father died with cancer and John had to withdraw. He already was the tournament’s favourite player.
John Higgins said, “I hope the good people of Berlin will understand this that I have to withdraw as my father has passed away and my family comes first. Berry Hearn and the world snooker board sent their best regards for John and his family.”
However, before leaving John Higgins lived up to everyone’s expectations when he produced almost a flawless highest break 143 of the tournament playing against his opponent Robert Milkins in round 1. They were fighting for the last 16 and John was
leading Milkins by 2-0.
John Higgins, two times former world champion, is a player who is amongst the only five players who have won the world championship and UK championship both in the same year. Before this 143, he had made 455 centuries in his professional career including
five maximum breaks.
Milkins broke the frame and left John with a difficult long pot, but John potted the red so perfectly showing his marvellous control over the cue ball placing a black with it. Although he had a few open reds but he went for a light canon from the very
second black opening a few more reds for himself. The shots all the way were played so perfectly that the commentators at many occasions were found speechless.
It started looking as if a maximum is going to come up when after the 8th black he went a bit out of position, coming up for the black was not an option then although he had a long pot and could have come up for the black again
but winning the frame was always the priority. John went for the blue there. Following with another black’s pot he did take pink.
The maximum was no longer there now but John Higgins was now concerned about making at least the maximum of the tournament. He asked the referee about the maximum of the tournament and was given with the answer of 142.
Three reds were left now and the crossing the figure of 142 was only possible with all three blacks. John exactly did the same. He took all three blacks with the remaining reds along with the colours to set a new highest break of 143 in the tournament.
John Higgins eventually won knocking Robert Milkins out by a frame score of 5-3, in a best-of-nine frame match in round 1 and had made his place in the last 16, where he was supposed to face Marco Fu. However, after his withdrawal Marco Fu was given
a walkover.
Ronnie O’Sullivan already did not show up reasoning illness and then Higgins also had to withdraw, as sad news of his father’s expiry came up.
After these two, Mark Williams, the world’s number three player became the favourite in the tournament, which he also won from his opponent Mark Selby by a frame score of 9-7, in a best-of-17 frame match.
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