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Who is John Higgins?
John Higgins, labeled “Wizard of Wishaw” by the snooker fraternity, is one of the best players to ever grace the game. Moreover, Higgins also made history by being the first player in a major tournament to make four successive century breaks. Besides, he’s also one of just five players in history to have won both the World and the UK Championships in the same year.
Profile of John Higgins
Full Name | John Higgins |
Popular As | The Wizard of Wishaw |
Birthdate | 18th May, 1975 |
Place of Birth | Wishaw, North Lanarkshire, Scotland |
Gender | Male |
Profession | Professional Snooker Player |
Nationality | Scottish |
Race / Ethnicity | White |
Religion | Christian |
Current Ranking | 7 |
Education | St Aidan’s High School |
Sexual Orientation | Straight |
Age | 47 years old |
Sun-sign | Taurus |
Eye color | Light Brown |
Hair Color | Dark Brown |
Height | 5′ 8″ (173 Cm) |
Marital status | Married |
Parents | John Higgins Sr. (Father) & Josephine Higgins (Mother) |
Siblings | Jason Higgins |
Spouse | Denise Higgins (m. 2000 – present) |
Children | 3 (Oliver, Pierce & Claudia) |
Net Worth | $11.2 Million USD |
John Higgins is a snooker player who competes professionally. The athlete has won multiple events, demonstrating his superior abilities. World Championship Snooker (1973), Betway UK Championship (1977), and Champion of Champions (2013) are among his credits.
Early-life, Education & Family of John Higgins
John Higgins was born in Wishaw, North Lanarkshire, Scotland, on May 18, 1975. Accordingly, John Higgins Sr. and Josephine Higgins were his parents. He grew up in the same city on the Clyde Valley’s outskirts. Additionally, he has a younger brother named Jason Higgins.
John Higgins Sr., Higgins’ late father, attended most of his snooker tournaments. Regrettably, he died in 2011 following a six-year battle with incurable cancer.
Meanwhile, Higgins’ educational background is undisclosed. He did, however, graduate from St Aidan’s High School in his hometown before playing professionally.
Likewise, it’s unclear wherein he took inspiration to start playing snooker. Despite this, John and his associates began playing snooker at a young age. As a result, he chose to pursue a career when he was 16 years old. By this time, he had already won a few amateur competitions. Similarly, he reached the quarterfinals of the British Open in his debut season.
John Higgins’s Career Stats
Since 1992, John has been a professional snooker player. Higgins made it to the quarterfinals of the British Open in his debut year on the tour. In the 1994-1995 season, he gained notoriety after winning his first ranking tournament at the Grand Prix at the age of 19, defeating Dave Harold in the finale. He made history by becoming the first youngster to win three ranking tournaments in a single season.
He finished second in the 2018 World Championship. In the final, he was defeated by Mark Williams. However, he reached the final for the second year in a row and lost.
Likewise, he finished second in the 2019 World Championship. In the final, he was defeated by Judd Trump. As a result, he became the first and only snooker player in history to reach the final three years in a row.
John Higgins’s Achievements
Throughout his snooker journey, John Higgins had an interesting breakthrough. Higgins won his first ranking competition in the Grand Prix two years after turning professional, in the 1994/1995 season. In the same year, he went on to win two additional ranking tournaments. He won the British Open and the International Open, as well as reaching the finals of the Welsh Open and the Masters.
Meanwhile, he won the 1998 Embassy World Championship in the 1997/98 season. He was named WPBSA Player of the Year at the end of the season. After winning the 1998 Embassy World Championship, he rose to the top of the standings.
On the 16th of October 2005, in Preston, England, he became the first player to record four consecutive century breaks in a major tournament.
Moreover, in the 2008 Queen’s New Year’s Honors List, he was granted the M.B.E. (Member of the Order of the British Empire) for his contributions to snooker. During his career, he has made the highest break of 147 seven times.
He won the 2010 Euro PTC 5 in his first competition after his suspension. He also won the 2010 12BET.com UK Championship. Similarly, he won the 2011 Betfred.com World Championship, his first major event.
On November 13, 2016, he defeated Ronnie O’Sullivan in the final of the Champion of Champions competition. At the age of 42, he was the second-oldest Crucible World finalist. Furthermore, Higgins is also one of only five players to have won both the World and UK Championships in the same year.
Scandal & Suspension
The most serious damage to John Higgins’ career came when he and Pat Mooney were accused of match-fixing. Mooney served on the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association’s board of directors as well as Higgins’s manager.
Match-fixing charges were leveled against John Higgins and his management on May 2, 2010. Higgins was suspended from professional billiards and snooker competition for six months by the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association. The News of the World used a sting operation to confirm this information. As a result, he was suspended for six months and fined £75,000 in total.
Eventually, in 2010, Higgins was cleared of match-fixing allegations leveled against him by the UK publication. And, on November 12, 2010, Higgins made his professional comeback. After that, he won the Ruhr Championship.
Apart from this, he was removed off an aircraft for being intoxicated in 2006, after losing the Malta Cup final to Ken Doherty.
John Higgins’s Personal life & Relationships
John has been married to Denise Higgins since 2000. Moreover, Denise and John have known each other since they were both students at Wishaw High School. The two originally met at a disco, where their school mates introduced them. Accordingly, they got engaged in 1998. They are the parents of three children. Pierce and Oliver Higgins are John’s sons, while Claudia Higgins is his only daughter.
As of the present, the couple currently resides in a distinct, sophisticated property in Lanarkshire with their children. The duo has also appeared in cameo appearances. In February 2010, John and his wife Denise appeared on ITV’s Mr. and Mrs. They made it to the final and won £30,000, which they donated to The Dalziel Centre.
John Higgins’s Physique
John stands at an impressive height of 5 ft. 88 in. and weighs roughly 168 lb. (76 kg) (1.73 m). Moreover, he lost nearly four stone after becoming dissatisfied with his weight during the pandemic lockdown.
Net Worth of John Higgins
As a professional snooker player, John Higgins makes up a large portion of his net worth. He has played in numerous events since his professional debut at a young age. Moreover, because he is one of the best snooker players in the world, he boasts various brand endorsements. Reportedly, the estimated net worth of John Higgins is around $11.2 million.
Some Interesting Facts about John Higgins
- Higgins has approximately three decades of experience in the Pro Snooker field.
- Besides, he is a passionate football fan who cheers on Everton of the English Premier League.
- Also, he is a diehard Celtic FC supporter who attends many of the team’s games.
- In 2008, John was awarded the MBE.
- Recently, John made a financial donation to Craigneuk Amateurs Football Club in September 2021.