John Higgins thinks Crucible Theatre is a test of nerves: World Snooker Championship 2011
World number one John Higgins has been giving his best in the World Snooker Championship 2011 with stunning centuries and steady but deadly snooker display.
On the other hand, he also believes that the championship is a test of one’s nerves. The triple champion trailed 3-5 to Mark Williams in the semi-final on Thursday, April 28 at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.
The Scotsman has been outstanding in the current season especially after he was banned from world snooker. He allegedly accepted bribe for losing at the world championship in 2010. Although he was cleared of the charges, yet he had to serve a six-month ban
for bringing the sport at the brink of trouble and disrespect.
Higgins has grabbed the gold of the World Snooker Championship three times before (1998, 2007, 2009) and he surely knows how it feels when a player is at the table with thousands watching inside the arena and millions on television.
“It's a test of everything,” Higgins said. “It's a test of whether you can get your sleep at night. Your whole nervous system is in meltdown for 17 days, it's just how you handle it. Experience only gets you so far, you've got to have ability to go with
it. You look at Judd Trump who's got no experience here and he's blitzing everyone.”
Getting enough time for a sound sleep is the main concern for the 35-year-old Higgins as he is surely under a lot of pressure while playing against Williams because the Welshman has beaten him twice before at the same stage.
However, he has found a solution to that.
“It's difficult,” he said, “But I've got my little brother with me and he can bore me to tears now and get me to sleep. I'm dreaming about everything.”
The North Lanarkshire potter has one more thing to play strong in his game and that is the inspiration he is drawing from his late father, Higgins senior. He always had his father to guide him during his career and for Higgins, he is still there to help
him out.
“It's inspiring me. It's the first time I've been down here when he's not been here but he's watching down. He was a big character and I know he's here as well,” he said.
Ad interim, the Scottish went 3-5 down to the former two-time world champion Mark Williams in their semi-final clash before the end of the first session on Thursday.
Tags: