Struggling John Higgins stays in Welsh Open – Snooker news
World Number One cueist, John Higgins headed to the second round of Welsh Open defeating youngster Jack Lisowski 4-3, in the first round of Welsh Open 2011 at Newport Centre on Monday, February 14. The defending champion faced a tough fight from the teenager
who has emerged as a promising international player.
The 35-year-old Scottish seemed a little stressed because of the recent incidents back home. His father passed away a few days ago during the German Masters 2011. Higgins had to withdraw from the tournament and he was playing here for the first time since
his father’s death.
In the first frame, Jack played some very good shots and secured it with a break of 70 taking a 1-0 lead over Higgins. However, Higgins bounced back from nowhere winning consecutive three frames and took the match to 3-1, playing some good half centuries.
The game seemed getting out of the youngster’s hands in the fifth frame but the left-hander came back firing 32 and 47 breaks to win the frame by 79-8 and take the game to 3-2.
The next frame was a bit tough for the youngster but he promptly won it too with frame score 69-46 and levelled the game 3-3, forcing it into a decider. The experienced Higgins won the decider hitting a 59 break and the match as well to surge into the second
round of Welsh Open 2011.
After the win, John was tearful because of his father. A grieving Higgins said in the press conference after the match, "My mum told me to come down and do my dad proud. I hadn't picked a cue up but it's what my dad would have wanted. I was thinking about
him being here last year. I was all over the place. I couldn't concentrate but it was good to be back."
John Higgins is all set to put up a better show in the next encounter as he will now face Dave Harold who defeated Ricky Walden 4-3 in the first round of the tournament on Monday, February 14.
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