Snooker: KO'd John Higgins feeling strain
JOHN HIGGINS crashed out of the Betfair World Championship last night, admitting the strain of staying at the top was showing.
Four-time world champion Higgins, 37, lost 10-6 to Mark Davis at the Crucible to hand the 40-year-old from Sussex the biggest win of a 22-year career.
I feel like it has caught up with me and taken a toll.
Higgins’ defeat also gave the returning Ronnie O’Sullivan’s title hopes a boost, with the pair seeded to meet in the quarter-finals.
But a weary Higgins said: “You just start to miss certain shots and perhaps it’s the continual strain of winning big matches and being at the business end of tournaments. There are only certain people you could ask about it. Maybe Stephen Hendry, Steve Davis, Mark Williams – but I feel like it has caught up with me and taken a toll.”
World No16 Davis was delighted after clinching just a third win at the Crucible.
“That has to be the biggest victory of my career,” he said. “I had shocking memories of last year, losing 10-2 to Ali Carter when I felt half-dead and was ill.
“The mental side is so important and that is better now. I am a better player. I don’t beat myself up over mistakes.
“To get into the top 16 for the first time at 40 was incredible. I’ve had three semi-finals this season – and there could be more to come.”
