Higgins Condemns Table Conditions After Whitewash Victory
Snooker legend John Higgins secured a dominant 4-0 win against Ding Junhui in his opening match at the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship, but his victory was overshadowed by a scathing critique of the playing conditions, which he labelled as 'pathetic' for a professional tournament.
Despite the convincing scoreline, the first two frames were a struggle for both players, who found it difficult to find any rhythm. Higgins, known as The Wizard of Wishaw, eventually adapted, producing impressive back-to-back century breaks of 106 in the final two frames to seal the whitewash.
'No Bite Whatsoever' on the Table
In a post-match interview with TNT Sports, Higgins did not hold back. He suggested the table had been improperly raised, comparing it to having beer mats placed underneath. 'I think me and Ding both really struggled with the table,' Higgins stated. 'In the first couple of frames, there was no bite on the table. No grip whatsoever.'
He elaborated on the technical issue, explaining that the lack of 'bite' made it nearly impossible to control the cue ball. 'I'm trying to stun and it's just rolling through. Can't stop the cue ball,' he said, questioning who had approved the setup for a million-pound tournament.
His concerns were supported by seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry, who was on punditry duty. Hendry admitted he initially thought the height was part of the design but agreed it was 'incredible how much it's built up,' suggesting an uneven floor might be the cause.
Looking Ahead to the Quarter-Finals
Despite the troublesome conditions, Higgins progresses to the quarter-finals where he is set to face the defending champion Mark Allen. The winner of the tournament will claim a £250,000 prize, with an additional $1 million bonus on offer for any player who can achieve a 167 break using the unique golden ball, introduced specifically for this event.
Reflecting on his performance, Higgins said, 'Ding gave me a few chances obviously, and then in the third frame I done a hundred break. I felt I got through the ball a little bit better... I'm delighted to win obviously.'
The opening day in Riyadh also saw a major upset, with Ronnie O'Sullivan suffering a 4-0 defeat to Shaun Murphy. Murphy expressed his delight at securing his first win over 'The Rocket' since 2017.
