John Higgins returns to practice table after six-month ban
Three-time world champion John Higgins has picked up a snooker cue again after serving a six-month ban for match-fixing.
Higgins was found not guilty of agreeing to throw frames for money after the News of the World set up a sting operation in April, but he was found guilty of failing to report a would-be corruptor to the sport, and was also fined £75,000.
Higgins is set to return to competitive action at the UK championship on December 4th for the first time since the scandal was uncovered on the morning of the world championship final in May, and speaking to STV, he said his time away will make him a stronger player.
“[Being away] it’s made me reinvigorated because sometimes you can go through the motions. I haven’t played for five months and it’s given me another whole new appetite to try and succeed again,” he said.
Higgins has admitted that during the time he was waiting for the case to finish with his reputation and future on the line, it has been the most difficult part of his career.
Asked about whether his game will be affected by the events, Higgins said he would have to wait until he plays competitively again. “Once I get back on, I’m going to come back more determined and I’ll have to wait and see how my results stack up.
“It’s going to spur me on and I’ve got a lot to prove to my fellow players. It will take time to try and strike the balance since I’ve been playing from the age of nine. When it comes down to the crunch of a frame, the hardest part being away from the game will be when a pressure pot comes. It’s going to be tough but let’s see what happens,” Higgins said.
The Scotsman says his relationship with his fellow professionals won’t be damaged by the sting. “At the end of the day, there’s a lot of jealousy in any sport, but I’ve been lucky in my sport not to have that. I’ll need to come back and prove those people [who didn’t support me] wrong.
“In general I’ve become a stronger person, not in snooker terms. I totally stayed away from snooker. Away from the clubs, the table, and until I knew 100% that I was cleared I was ready to come back,” said Higgins.
A winner of 21 ranking events, Higgins still has the desire to go on and win more trophies. “Any tournament win is always special, but my main aim will be to win a tournament. [To win the world championship] for a fourth time would be very special after everything that has happened. This is me back and hopefully I’ll be back for many years and be an ambassador to the game,” he said.
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