John Higgins has revealed he has bittersweet memories over the years at the UK Championships.
The Scot, 48, was victorious on Monday as he overcame long-time rival Ding Junhui with a vital 6-4 victory at the 2024 Johnstone’s Paint Players Championships in Telford.
Snooker aficionados witnessed a riveting display of skill and sportsmanship as Higgins emerged victorious over his adversary, with the pair having shared many intense matches through the years.
One of those occasions was in 2009, where it was more than just the final he lost out on. Sponsors of the competition that year were Pukka Pie, with the winner also entitled to their body weight’s worth of the delectable food.
In a match against Junhui during the Championships final, Higgins found himself on the brink of victory, only to be thwarted by the tantalising allure of the coveted prize. As the tension mounted and the stakes soared, Higgins faltered at a crucial juncture, narrowly missing out on both the title and the pie bounty.
"I’ve had some great times in Telford, obviously won the UK Championships back in 2010,” Higgins reminisced. "But it’s the 2009 final against Ding that really hurts. I missed out on the Pukka Pies prize. I’m still devastated.”
He defeated Mark Williams in the 2010 final a year later to atone for his mistakes 12 months prior.
Despite his recent triumph over Junhui, Higgins remains acutely aware of the challenges that have plagued his path to victory throughout the season.
Having reached five ranked semi-finals, Higgins has consistently demonstrated his prowess on the snooker circuit. However, the elusive final victory has remained just out of reach, casting a shadow of frustration over his otherwise stellar performances.
The Glaswegian is now hopeful that he can go all the way in the tournament after picking up since a ropey start to the calendar year.
Higgins told SportsBoom.com: "Brilliant performance from me because I've always struggled against Ding. He always had my number, but the last few times we faced I’ve managed to beat him. I rate him so highly, he’s just a fabulous player, so it’s great to him.
"It’s getting better in comparison to the start of the year. There were a few things going wrong for me, but I’ve been fighting with my technique. I seem to be on top of that now, so I’m feeling much better and think I’ve got a good chance to progress onto a final now.”
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