John Higgins was in stunning form on Sunday in Sheffield (Picture: Getty Images)
John Higgins was understandably delighted with his 13-2 win over Kyren Wilson at the World Championship on Sunday, but is not so impressed with the ‘pathetic, terrible’ scheduling for the quarter-finals.
The Wizard of Wishaw proved unstoppable in his last 16 clash with the Warrior, knocking in four centuries and looking like a serious threat for the title as he secured the resounding victory with a session to spare.
Wilson had been very impressive in round one against Ryan Day, and even came into the match as favourite with the bookmakers, but he was absolutely no match for the four-time world champion.
‘I’m over the moon,’ Higgins told Eurosport. ‘Just to beat Kyren full stop, but to beat him with a session to spare, I’d never have believed that was possible.
‘I felt as if I could just play there all day, I just felt really good. You don’t get that feeling many times here.
‘8-0 in front, it was amazing. I came in thinking to try and share the session 4-4, I’d have took that at 12-4 in front. But it’s a bonus winning and getting a day off.’
Higgins explained recently that he has shortened his cue, a move that has helped him rediscover his best form after a quiet season and he is continuing to reap the benefits.
‘I’ve been feeling as if its been coming over the last month in practice and a couple of matches I’ve played. I’ve felt I could go on a run, frame-winning breaks one after another. That’s what you need to do here,’ he said.
‘You want to do as little as possible to get through the rounds, so I’m over the moon to get a day off now and just relax.
‘I certainly don’t sleep down here, four or five hours at night, so you’re tired during the day and need to catch up on your sleep. I’m delighted.’
Higgins goes on to play either Mark Selby or Gary Wilson in the quarter-finals, with Selby looking most likely as he leads Wilson 10-6 with one session to play.
Higgins strolled past Wilson in what was expected to be a close match (Picture: Getty Images)
The Scot is thrilled to be in the last eight but not pleased that he will be playing in the afternoon session on Tuesday and then the afternoon and evening sessions on Wednesday, a schedule he cannot stand.
‘It’s pathetic isn’t it? Every year there’s always a quarter, I’ve been coming for 29 years and every year there’s a quarter where you’re going back-to-back sessions in a quarter-final of a World Championship,’ he said.
‘It’s terrible, absolutely terrible. It’s pathetic. Why? Why are you out there playing for like 10 hours?
‘It depends the way the match is going, if you’re well in front it can be great because you just want to roll on with it. But if you’re well behind you want to have a little break and you don’t want the other guy to still feel good.
‘It’s just really bad planning and we’ve had it for so many years. It should be eight frames 2.30pm Tuesday, then 10am, then 7pm.’
MORE : Kyren Wilson not taking cue excuse after ‘frustrating’ John Higgins battering
MORE : John Higgins explains return to form after Crucible opener puts him ‘on a high’
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‘It’s terrible, absolutely terrible.’