An emotional John Higgins came through his opening test at the 2025 World Snooker Championship in Sheffield on Monday.
In a repeat of the recent World Open final, Higgins fought his way back from 5-3 behind to beat Joe O’Connor 10-7 at the Crucible Theatre.
The four-time world champion has entered this edition as one of the favourites for glory after a blistering second half to the 2024/25 campaign.
After snapping a four-year ranking event title drought in Yushan, Higgins backed it up with another brilliant victory at the Tour Championship a couple of weeks ago.
However, his preparation for the two-week marathon took on less importance in recent days after his father-in-law became seriously ill, suffering from a heart attack last Tuesday.
Higgins looked exhausted during a first session from which he did well to come out only 5-4 behind.
The 49 year-old subsequently benefited from a mid-afternoon rest when he returned for the evening session.
A brace of century breaks and a crucial win in a dramatic 15th frame, when the scores were locked at 7-7, helped the third seed through to the last 16, where he’ll face Xiao Guodong.
“There are so many emotions going through my mind, but I’m absolutely delighted to have won,” John Higgins told the World Snooker Tour.
“That was the most drained I’ve ever felt in the first session today playing Joe. Just when I was leaving my apartment, I was in tears.”
“It’s hard to explain, but I had to get back into my apartment and give my face a wash, then come and play.
“Joe was totally dominating me, but I was delighted to just be 5-4 behind. I got a couple of hours rest, and I felt I played better tonight.
“He’d a chance, I’d a chance [in the 15th frame], but it’s just what the Crucible does to you.
“I feel now that when I’m getting into position to get over the winning line in the last few months, I’m managing to do it.
“Obviously I was getting some bad press with people saying different things when I wasn’t getting over the line.
“It gets harder, it gets harder as you get older. So it’s good to be feeling confident again near the winning line.
“Probably [I’m a contender]. But listen, it doesn’t mean anything. I’ve been here so many times, and it’s all what happens out on that green baize.
“I’m through to the second round – a tough game with Guodong next – and I’ll just give it everything again.”
Elsewhere on day three, Zhao Xintong and Mark Allen both advanced in the top quarter of the 2025 World Snooker Championship draw.
Zhao withstood a mini revival from last year’s runner-up Jak Jones before completing a 10-4 triumph, while Allen beat Fan Zhengyi 10-6.
Two other games reached their halfway points, with Ding Junhui and Si Jiahui enjoying 6-3 overnight leads over Zak Surety and David Gilbert respectively.
Those matches conclude on Tuesday, while the likes of Ronnie O’Sullivan and Shaun Murphy also enter the fray in this year’s competition.
Featured photo credit: WST
Higgins into round 2 for the 27th time, a tally bettered only by O’Sullivan on 28.
Xiao Guodong and Hossein Vafaei have the same walk-on track and so do Ding Junhui and Zhao Xintong.