Snooker: Higgins set for number one spot

Feb 3 2010 by Andrew Weston, Wishaw Press

NEWLY-CROWNED Welsh Open champion John Higgins is set to replace Ronnie O’Sullivan as world number one.

The Wishaw ace was in outstanding form last Sunday, beating defending champion Ali Carter 9-4 to claim his second Welsh Open title and 21st ranking title overall.

If World Champion Higgins matches O’Sullivan’s result at next month’s China Open, then he will be ranked number one going into the 2010 World Championships at Sheffield in April.

The Wizard of Wishaw completed a remarkable turnaround in form at the Welsh Open, having crashed to a first-round exit at the Masters tournament last month, going down 6-3 to Mark Allen.

But the 34-year-old was in devastating form in Newport last week, claiming notable victories over Michael Judge, new Masters Champion Mark Selby, close friend Graeme Dott and O’Sullivan en route to the final.

Carter simply could not cope with Higgins in the final as he raced to a 5-0 lead thanks to breaks of 95, 101, 137 and 81 before securing a 9-4 win.

“I was delighted with the way I played for the first five frames,” Higgins said.

“That was the best I’d ever felt really. “I was just properly zoned in.”

He added: “It’s hard to win any tournament these days so I’m over the moon.”

“The world championship is what we’re all building towards.

“The way I’m feeling with my game, I’m looking forward to it.”