Stricken John Higgins admits the fear of sh**ting himself HELPED him secure a place in the World Open quarter-finals.
The four-time World Snooker Champion has revealed he has fallen pray to the local cuisine in Yushan, China and was thinking more about the toilet during his storming 5-4 victory over Zhou Yuelong. He came from 4-2 down as he aims to clinch a 32nd ranking title. But the world number 13 is going to stick to the bread and water from now on as he prepares to faces Pang Junxu in the last eight.
The former Masters winner revealed: “I’ve got to be honest, I’ve not been feeling great all day. My stomach has been very bad. I’ve been enjoying the hot pots too much. I think from 4-2 behind it helped me. I was really bad.
“It probably relaxed my mind because I wasn’t thinking about the match, I was thinking about not running to the toilet. That’s the God’s honest truth. It probably relaxed my mind because I wasn’t thinking about the pressures of the game. Just the pressure of something else! There will be no more hotpot. No nothing. Just bread and water.”
Struggling Higgins had a paltry top break of just 41 as the home potter hit runs of 87, 57 and 56 to lead 4-2. But the Wizard of Wishaw uncharacteristically fist pumped through gritted teeth after sealing the comeback with visits of 60, 74 and 72.
Higgins, who is bidding to end a painful four-year ranking-title drought, added: “I’m proud that I’m still going and still competing. I’d dearly love to win another big event. That’s what I’m trying my hardest to do. It felt good. I’ve been on the wrong end of a lot of deciders lately so to win that was very pleasing. I’m delighted because Zhou was looking really strong. It’s a good win for me.”