John Higgins is a four-time world snooker champion and one of the most complete all-round players in the history of the professional game.
John Higgins – Career Snapshot
| Date of birth: | 18 May 1975 |
| Nationality: | Scotland |
| Turned professional: | 1992 |
| Highest world ranking: | No. 1 |
| Ranking titles: | 33 |
| World Championship titles: | 4 |
| Triple Crown titles: | 9 |
| Masters appearances: | 31 |
| Maximum 147 breaks: | 13 |
John Higgins’s Snooker Career
John Higgins turned professional in 1992, emerging alongside Ronnie O’Sullivan and Mark Williams in what later became known as snooker’s celebrated Class of ’92. Renowned for his tactical intelligence, composure under pressure, and exceptional all-round game, the Scot quickly established himself as one of the sport’s elite competitors.
Higgins claimed his first World Championship title in 1998, becoming world number one for the first time in the process. Further Crucible triumphs followed in 2007, 2009, and 2011, cementing his reputation as one of the game’s greatest performers on snooker’s biggest stage.
Unlike many of his contemporaries, Higgins has demonstrated remarkable longevity at the highest level. He has rarely dropped outside the top 16 since first entering the elite bracket in 1995 and has spent the vast majority of his career inside the top eight.
Alongside his world titles, Higgins has enjoyed major success across the Triple Crown, winning the Masters twice and lifting the UK Championship trophy on three occasions. His career has not been without controversy, most notably following a six-month ban in 2010, but his overall stature within the sport has remained intact.
In the latter stages of his career, Higgins continued to defy age, reaching three consecutive World Championship finals between 2017 and 2019. In 2025, he ended a four-year wait for a ranking title by winning the World Open and followed it up with victory at the Tour Championship, reaffirming his status as a leading force well into his late forties.
John Higgins’s Ranking Titles
John Higgins has won a total of 33 ranking titles during his professional career.
| Year | Tournament |
|---|---|
| 1994 | Grand Prix |
| 1995 | International Open |
| 1995 | British Open |
| 1995 | German Open |
| 1996 | International Open |
| 1997 | European Open |
| 1997 | German Open |
| 1998 | British Open |
| 1998 | World Snooker Championship |
| 1998 | UK Championship |
| 1999 | Grand Prix |
| 1999 | China International |
| 2000 | Welsh Open |
| 2000 | UK Championship |
| 2001 | British Open |
| 2004 | British Open |
| 2005 | Grand Prix |
| 2007 | World Snooker Championship |
| 2008 | Grand Prix |
| 2009 | World Snooker Championship |
| 2010 | Welsh Open |
| 2010 | UK Championship |
| 2011 | Welsh Open |
| 2011 | World Snooker Championship |
| 2012 | Shanghai Masters |
| 2015 | Welsh Open |
| 2015 | Australian Open |
| 2015 | International Championship |
| 2017 | Indian Open |
| 2018 | Welsh Open |
| 2021 | Players Championship |
| 2025 | World Open |
| 2025 | Tour Championship |
Other Major Titles and Notable Wins
- The Masters (1999, 2006)
- Champion of Champions (2016)
- China Championship (2016)
- Premier League (1999)
- Championship League (2017, 2018, 2022, 2023)
- World Cup (1996, 2019)
John Higgins and the Triple Crown
John Higgins has enjoyed sustained success across snooker’s three Triple Crown events, collecting nine titles in total.
- World Championship: 4 titles (1998, 2007, 2009, 2011)
- UK Championship: 3 titles (1998, 2000, 2010)
- Masters: 2 titles (1999, 2006)
SHQ Star Rating: ★★★★★★★
SnookerHQ uses a seven-point star scale based on the scoring values of snooker balls, with a black (7) representing the highest career classification. Ratings are assigned using career achievements, longevity, and historical impact.
John Higgins: ★★★★★★★
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Featured photo credit: WST