John Higgins teased that this 12 months may very well be his final World Championship after defeat to Mark Allen within the first spherical of the Tour Championship on Monday evening.
The Pistol beat the Wizard 10-7 in an excellent contest in Manchester because the Northern Irishman made three tons and 4 half-centuries on his strategy to victory.
The Scot began brilliantly, with 4 half-centuries within the first 5 frames to take a 4-1 lead, however fell away a bit from there and Allen powered to victory within the second session.
Higgins was impressed with Allen’s efficiency and turned his consideration to the Crucible later this month, however prompt it may very well be his ‘ultimate go’ on the World Championship.
‘I believed Mark performed very effectively tonight,’ Higgins instructed ITV. ‘I ought to have been in entrance at present, 4-4. then I believed Mark performed higher tonight.
‘I missed two or three unforgivable balls at this degree. You can not afford to overlook and my lengthy sport was actually onn-existant as effectively. At this degree it’s not adequate towards the very best gamers
‘I simply must mud myself down. A few weeks earlier than the Worlds, attempt to get some good observe and go there and provides it a ultimate go, perhaps.’
Whether or not Higgins was simply disenchanted by the defeat or he was maybe suggesting yet one more reasonable crack at profitable the occasion, it wasn’t sure, however the 48-year-old did look like suggesting that the tip is close to.
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Requested about potential retirement in January, Higgins was genuinely uncertain whether or not he was near hanging up his cue.
‘It’s a tough one, it’s a tough one actually. Who is aware of?’ Higgins instructed Metro.co.uk earlier this season. ‘I really like the sport, I really like enjoying it, I really like competing in it.
‘It’s simply the off-table aspect of it, with the observe and various things the place I’m simply slowly shedding that edge to place the observe in and put myself on the market.
‘You may’t have one with out the opposite. It’s a tough one. However proper right here and now I ought to be wanting on the positives and going there and giving my all.’
Nevertheless, it appeared just like the Wizard of Wishaw had refocused by working with a sports activities psychologist for the primary time in his profession.
That transfer didn’t appear to be considered one of a person who’s imminently going to retire so we should wait and see, with the four-time world champion’s future probably depending on how he will get on in Sheffield this 12 months.
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