John Higgins has said he was a riddled with nerves as he suffered heartache at the UK Championship.
The Wizard of Wishaw, who joked this week about coaching old rival Ronnie O’Sullivan, lost out in a four hour epic against number one seed Judd Trump – as he saw his dreams of a famous fourth UK crown dashed with a painful 6-5 deciding-frame loss in York. It was an 11th loss in his last 13 meetings with Trump, stretching back to a crushing 18-9 World Championship final defeat in 2019
Higgins led 30-0 in the final frame, but uncharacteristically left a red for Trump to produce a fine clearance of 106, admitting that the defeat hurts because he knew he had chances – and just lost concentration at crucial moments. The world number 14 from Wishaw said: “I was confident out there, I know I missed a few but I think that was down to the nerves of playing a big match against the best player in the world.
“Judd probably has that confidence that he will clear up in a decider like that, whereas the likes of myself in a big match like that you’re maybe a little bit at sea. I never gave a second thought that I might leave a red into the middle. It was a little loss of concentration. I thoroughly enjoyed the game. There were good bits and bad bits. I had my chances so it will hurt.
“But you hold your hands up to him, it was a great break he made at the end under the upmost pressure. That’s what the real top boys do, they just get over that line.”
It was the first event for upbeat Higgins using a brand new cue which he feels has given his game a new lease of life. And he is optimistic about his future despite the disappointment of losing in one of the sport’s major tournaments, continuing: “I think there will be good things to come from me. I’ve only had a week with that cue, but I know it will be better for me. Going forward I think it will be good for me. It’s just fine margins in sport and I was on the wrong end of it.”
After a gripping first four frames were shared, the pair traded blows in a heavyweight fight on one of the sport’s biggest stages. Former champion Trump hit breaks of 111, 69 and 75 to lead 5-4, whilst Higgins had runs of 58, 106 and 66 to force a decider before Trump reached a fifth UK quarter-final with a classy clearance. Despite getting the better of the three-time champion, Trump said: “I don’t feel like the favourite the way I’m playing. I’m the eighth favourite going into the quarters.”