John Higgins scored one of the most satisfying victories of his career and ended a sequence of four years without a ranking title by beating Joe O’Connor 10-6 in the final of the Weide Cup World Open in Yushan, China.
One of snooker’s all-time greats, Higgins feared that his days of lifting trophies were over, particularly after a series of a narrow defeats in crucial matches, most painfully a 10-9 reverse from 9-4 ahead in the 2022 Tour Championship final against Neil Robertson.
Wishaw’s 49-year-old Higgins has, at last, buried those demons by capturing his first ranking title since the 2021 Players Championship. And it’s a huge event – with a top prize of £175,000 which lifts him to eighth in the Johnstone’s Paint World Rankings and up to third in the Johnstone’s Paint One-Year list. He now has 32 ranking titles, behind only Ronnie O’Sullivan (40) and Stephen Hendry (36).
Set to turn 50 in May, the Scot becomes the second oldest ranking event winner in snooker history, after Ray Reardon who was just the other side of his 50th birthday when he won the 1982 Professional Players Tournament. Higgins also sets a new record for the longest gap between first and most recent ranking titles, 30 years and 129 days after his maiden success at the 1994 Grand Prix.
Fellow ‘Class of 92’ members O’Sullivan and Mark Williams have had moments in the limelight in recent seasons, which may have stung for Higgins as his standard was still high but he struggled to handle nerves in big moments, describing it himself as “mental fragility.” He has never lost the hunger to win more titles and has experimented extensively with different cues as well as techniques to keep his emotions under control. This week he has found a formula that works, and the four-time Crucible king will hope that lasts as he looks to extend his astonishing longevity.
O’Connor had played perhaps the best snooker of his life in reaching the final, knocking out the likes of Judd Trump, Shaun Murphy and Ali Carter. The 29-year-old from Leicester started slowly today and left himself too big a deficit to claw back, and is still waiting for his first pro title, having lost his only previous final 9-2 against Gary Wilson at the 2022 Scottish Open. Still, the £75,000 pay day is a career best and lifts him eight places to world number 31.
Leading 6-2 after the first session, Higgins soon extended that advantage as a break of 68 helped him take the opening frame of the evening session. Runs of 71 and 70 got O’Connor back to 7-4, only for Higgins to respond with 57 and 94 to go 9-4 ahead.
In frame 14, Higgins had a chance for victory from 45-1 down, but made just 24 before missing a risky plant to a centre pocket, handing his opponent the chance to pull one back. Higgins established a 43-8 lead in the 15th before O’Connor got the better of a safety exchange and, with the balls in unpromising positions, made a marvellous 67 clearance including a double on the final green to a centre pocket.
At 9-6, Higgins may have feared a late collapse, but he composed himself and finished in superb style with a break of 100, his fifth century of the tournament.
Update …
WST has now added John Higgins quotes: “I’m just delighted. I am drained, there has been a lot of nervous energy in the last couple of days. I am dead proud to win another big event at this age,” said Higgins, who has now won four ranking titles in China. “I didn’t know if I was going to win another event because I have taken so many devastating losses over the last three or four years. To come back and win this is a proud moment.”Joe didn’t play his best today, having been unbelievable all week. He didn’t have the same game he had against Shaun, Judd and Ali. The first frame was massive because he had a chance to win it on the last black and if he had gone 1-0 up he would have taken confidence. I kept him under pressure, my safety was pretty good all day. He’s a great all-round player but just didn’t turn up today, he’ll come again I’m sure.”It should give me belief and confidence. I hope I can win more but it’s still the toughest it has ever been at the top. I’ll try and do well in the World Grand Prix and then take some decent presents back to the kids.”
People who read this blog know how much I struggle to appreciate Higgins after what happened in 20101 but there is no doubt that he’s a great player, one of the greatest, and that his dedication to his sport is to be admired.
I still feel that he has got away with what he did very, very lightly at the time. He only missed some minor events early in the season. The fact that he was set up is nor here or there because he didn’t know that he was set up. That said, he wasn’t the main culprit, nor was he the main target. He may just have been collateral damage. His manager Pat Mooney had much more responsibility in this than John himself if only because he was a member of the board, in charge of developing the game in Eastern Europe. As a result, Pat was banned from all things snooker. Rightly so. To John’s credit, on his return, he worked very hard to redeem himself. What I REALLY wish to know one day is what was the TRUE purpose of this setup and who was behind it. I doubt that the NOTW just wanted a big scoop … Surely there was something deeper and more sinister behind it all. Maybe the real target was Hearn, who had just taken control of the sport and wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea. By discrediting his “board”, someone may have tried to discredit Hearn himself. ↩︎
7 thoughts on “John Higgins is the 2025 World Open Champion”
could have said something nice about John really instead of bringing up the ban from 15 years ago, classless. also, I’m pretty sure Ronnie keeps pulling out cos he needs to get used to the cue. I’m 100% sure he’s playing the Crucible
I said he’s a great in snooker, one of the greatest, and that his dedication is admirable. I mean it. Honestly.
If you had been in the media room on that fateful night, you would probably understand why I can’t let go of it. Steve Davis who now minimises the whole incident was in tears. Fred Donne immediately arrived to discuss the situation with Hearn and give reassurance that he wasn’t withdrawing his sponsorship. It was a VERY serious crisis. And it could have been avoided very easily. All it would have taken was for Pat Mooney and/or John Higgins to give Jason Ferguson a call when they came back to the UK. Just a call, saying we had a problem, we need to talk. That would have been enough. It would have “deflated” the whole affair before even it became an “affair”. Jason is a very open minded person and he’s always “reachable”. He’s been a player for many years, he understands their problems. John said that he wished to discuss the situation with his family. He could still have done that after calling Jason. Jason wasn’t going to “materialise” in the middle of his living room within seconds or minutes. He had plenty on his hands with the World semi-finals underway.
still, why bring it up. it’s like idiots bringing up the time Ronnie walked out on Hendry in 2006. who cares, as Bill Maher says let’s live in the year we’re living in
Well I care because since that happened players have been banned for much longer, needing to re-qualify, just for not reporting approaches they became aware of. Approaches on other players, sometimes on close mates. WST punished them harshly for not grassing on their friends. Jamie Jones was such a case. There is a huge disproportion on treatment there and I can’t accept that, never will.
Of course they didn’t know they were set up. Had they known, they’d have told the NOTW goons to scr*** themselves and strutted out of the room. They apparently really believed that they were talking to Ukrainian Mafia, and, were they to defy their “offer”, they’d have a hit man coming after them. So, Higgins pretended to agree, and then got the hell out of Dodge.
To this day I do not understand why they didn’t contact the snooker authorities immediately after their return to the UK to report they had been approached. That way, at least as far as Higgins was concerned, that whole affair would have fizzled before it really got started. Protecting Mooney would have been a small reward compared to the reputational hit he took. Anyway, I am happy I wasn’t ever put in a room with any goons to discover what I would have done in order to get out in one piece.
Higgins has done his time for his failure, and is a highly and widely respected member of the snooker community. The NOWT goons, had they reacted to a pattern of corruption and got some culprits on tape admitting to same, would have had my full support. But they created the appearance of corruption where there was none for the sole purpose of landing a scoop. That was their MO for a long time, and that odious outfit met their well-deserved demise, not a second too early, shortly thereafter.
To conclude this: Whether or not NOWT were mere dupes (highly unlikely) in some larger game aiming at Hearn (or for some other purpose) I find less interesting. Maybe the NOTW goons just got wind some players were complaining about not having been paid, and smelled some sort of opportunity revolving around money. That’s more proof money in sports is detrimental, and the higher the sums, the bigger the damage. Highly under-reported is the culpability of the snooker authorities, who should have taken a long look in a mirror: To develop a European leg, they should have put their own resources to work, rather than unloading that risk on Higgins and Mooney. That, to me, is the original sin that never got the attention it deserved, and that, too, is a function of money disfiguring sports.
But the thing is … Mooney was part of the “snooker authorities”. He had been chosen to be part of the board. Four of them had been chosen to take charge of developing the game under Hearn authority. Jason Ferguson, in the UK, the late Brandon Parker in Western Europe, Pat Mooney in Eastern Europe and I don’t remember who was the fourth guy in charge of China/Asia (*).
How do I know that, you’ll ask me? Well, earlier that season there had been a number of exhibitions in Germany, organised by Brandon. Notably at the Tempodrom which is how it was “discovered”. I took pictures at quite a few of them. After one of those exhibitions, everyone had a bit (too much) of a drink and Brandon had told us what the plans were. Of course we were asked not to tell anything at the time and we didn’t. Now it’s irrelevant, Hearn took control of the game and the rest is history.
Also Mooney and Higgins had invested in a series of events all over Europe, including one in Moscow. It was called the “World Series”. It was a great initiative but it wasn’t the success they had expected. They were left with debts. Players who had participated had not yet been paid in full. So they were “vulnerable”. How the NOTW knew, I’m not sure, but I’m convinced they knew and that’s why they targeted them specifically.
I watched that clip in the media room at the Crucible the night it was published. Well … if Higgins was scared, he missed on a very successful career as an actor, because he appeared in that clip, laughing, joking and even discussing how to “hide” this money using his properties in Spain. He was also heard saying that they could bring more players in the scheme. Why say that? But then again, maybe the clip had been “doctored”.
Given Mooney future position on the board, there was never going to trust him in any position of responsibility after that, obviously. But Higgins was still the reigning World Champion… Yes he had lost in the early rounds but the Championship was still underway, so he was still the World Champion. Very embarrassing isn’t it? So they didn’t want to emphasise on him. Had Higgins reported the approach he would never have been in trouble, but he didn’t. Exactly why, we will never know for sure. Maybe he was really scared? Maybe he wanted to discuss what to do next with Mooney? Maybe he just wanted a bit of time to process what had happened?
(*) maybe Jason was in charge of China, and the fourth member was in charge of UK. Not sure anymore. But regarding Brandon Parker and Pat Mooney I’m certain.
I don’t care much for Higgins and really like O’Connor, but it’s nice to see one of the older fellows to win, especially after such a long hiatus and permanent disappointment. Also in the light of what Ronnie does these days it’s even more refreshing.
Ronnie O'Sullivan 
could have said something nice about John really instead of bringing up the ban from 15 years ago, classless. also, I’m pretty sure Ronnie keeps pulling out cos he needs to get used to the cue. I’m 100% sure he’s playing the Crucible
I said he’s a great in snooker, one of the greatest, and that his dedication is admirable. I mean it. Honestly.
If you had been in the media room on that fateful night, you would probably understand why I can’t let go of it. Steve Davis who now minimises the whole incident was in tears. Fred Donne immediately arrived to discuss the situation with Hearn and give reassurance that he wasn’t withdrawing his sponsorship. It was a VERY serious crisis. And it could have been avoided very easily. All it would have taken was for Pat Mooney and/or John Higgins to give Jason Ferguson a call when they came back to the UK. Just a call, saying we had a problem, we need to talk. That would have been enough. It would have “deflated” the whole affair before even it became an “affair”. Jason is a very open minded person and he’s always “reachable”. He’s been a player for many years, he understands their problems. John said that he wished to discuss the situation with his family. He could still have done that after calling Jason. Jason wasn’t going to “materialise” in the middle of his living room within seconds or minutes. He had plenty on his hands with the World semi-finals underway.
still, why bring it up. it’s like idiots bringing up the time Ronnie walked out on Hendry in 2006. who cares, as Bill Maher says let’s live in the year we’re living in
Well I care because since that happened players have been banned for much longer, needing to re-qualify, just for not reporting approaches they became aware of. Approaches on other players, sometimes on close mates. WST punished them harshly for not grassing on their friends. Jamie Jones was such a case. There is a huge disproportion on treatment there and I can’t accept that, never will.
Of course they didn’t know they were set up. Had they known, they’d have told the NOTW goons to scr*** themselves and strutted out of the room. They apparently really believed that they were talking to Ukrainian Mafia, and, were they to defy their “offer”, they’d have a hit man coming after them. So, Higgins pretended to agree, and then got the hell out of Dodge.
To this day I do not understand why they didn’t contact the snooker authorities immediately after their return to the UK to report they had been approached. That way, at least as far as Higgins was concerned, that whole affair would have fizzled before it really got started. Protecting Mooney would have been a small reward compared to the reputational hit he took. Anyway, I am happy I wasn’t ever put in a room with any goons to discover what I would have done in order to get out in one piece.
Higgins has done his time for his failure, and is a highly and widely respected member of the snooker community. The NOWT goons, had they reacted to a pattern of corruption and got some culprits on tape admitting to same, would have had my full support. But they created the appearance of corruption where there was none for the sole purpose of landing a scoop. That was their MO for a long time, and that odious outfit met their well-deserved demise, not a second too early, shortly thereafter.
To conclude this: Whether or not NOWT were mere dupes (highly unlikely) in some larger game aiming at Hearn (or for some other purpose) I find less interesting. Maybe the NOTW goons just got wind some players were complaining about not having been paid, and smelled some sort of opportunity revolving around money. That’s more proof money in sports is detrimental, and the higher the sums, the bigger the damage. Highly under-reported is the culpability of the snooker authorities, who should have taken a long look in a mirror: To develop a European leg, they should have put their own resources to work, rather than unloading that risk on Higgins and Mooney. That, to me, is the original sin that never got the attention it deserved, and that, too, is a function of money disfiguring sports.
But the thing is … Mooney was part of the “snooker authorities”. He had been chosen to be part of the board. Four of them had been chosen to take charge of developing the game under Hearn authority. Jason Ferguson, in the UK, the late Brandon Parker in Western Europe, Pat Mooney in Eastern Europe and I don’t remember who was the fourth guy in charge of China/Asia (*).
How do I know that, you’ll ask me? Well, earlier that season there had been a number of exhibitions in Germany, organised by Brandon. Notably at the Tempodrom which is how it was “discovered”. I took pictures at quite a few of them. After one of those exhibitions, everyone had a bit (too much) of a drink and Brandon had told us what the plans were. Of course we were asked not to tell anything at the time and we didn’t. Now it’s irrelevant, Hearn took control of the game and the rest is history.
Also Mooney and Higgins had invested in a series of events all over Europe, including one in Moscow. It was called the “World Series”. It was a great initiative but it wasn’t the success they had expected. They were left with debts. Players who had participated had not yet been paid in full. So they were “vulnerable”. How the NOTW knew, I’m not sure, but I’m convinced they knew and that’s why they targeted them specifically.
I watched that clip in the media room at the Crucible the night it was published. Well … if Higgins was scared, he missed on a very successful career as an actor, because he appeared in that clip, laughing, joking and even discussing how to “hide” this money using his properties in Spain. He was also heard saying that they could bring more players in the scheme. Why say that? But then again, maybe the clip had been “doctored”.
Given Mooney future position on the board, there was never going to trust him in any position of responsibility after that, obviously. But Higgins was still the reigning World Champion… Yes he had lost in the early rounds but the Championship was still underway, so he was still the World Champion. Very embarrassing isn’t it? So they didn’t want to emphasise on him. Had Higgins reported the approach he would never have been in trouble, but he didn’t. Exactly why, we will never know for sure. Maybe he was really scared? Maybe he wanted to discuss what to do next with Mooney? Maybe he just wanted a bit of time to process what had happened?
(*) maybe Jason was in charge of China, and the fourth member was in charge of UK. Not sure anymore. But regarding Brandon Parker and Pat Mooney I’m certain.
I don’t care much for Higgins and really like O’Connor, but it’s nice to see one of the older fellows to win, especially after such a long hiatus and permanent disappointment. Also in the light of what Ronnie does these days it’s even more refreshing.