3 months ago
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JOHN HIGGINS received a standing ovation at the English Open after reaching an incredible career milestone.
The Wizard of Wishaw achieved the feat during his last 16 clash with Mark Allen on Thursday.
eurosport
eurosportHis opponent even joined in with the applause of the crowd after Higgins’ heroics.
He has become just the second player ever to reach the milestone, which comes 32 years into his professional career.
Higgins is a four-time world champion with 13 career maximums to his name.
The 49-year-old has also been world number one on four separate occasions.
However, he can now add 1,000 career centuries to his record after a pair of ton breaks against Allen in Essex.
After an earlier 108, Higgins potted the black for a 105 in the fifth frame to reduce his opponent’s lead to 3-2.
The crowd immediately rose to their feet to applaud Higgins, who raised his hand in acknowledgement.
He could also be seen grinning after sitting in his chair, whilst Allen joined the crowd in clapping the Scottish cueist.
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Higgins is the second player to achieve the feat after Ronnie O’Sullivan.
The Rocket has 1,272 to his name across his illustrious professional career, which also started back in 1992.
The rules of snooker
THE aim of snooker is to clear the table of all balls - and achieving it in an incredible 147 break is the ultimate goal.
The rectangular table features green baize, a baulk line and semi-circle, known as the D.
It has six pockets, four in each corner and two midway down both long sides.
There are 15 red balls which are arranged in a triangular shape.
There are also six colour balls, and the white cue ball.
Each colour sits on its own designated spot at the start of the game.
While red balls are worth one point when potted, the colours all have a different value.
In ascending order these are:
- Yellow – two points
- Green – three points
- Brown – four points
- Blue – five points
- Pink – six points
- Black – seven points
The first player will cue off and must hit at least one of the red balls in the triangle.
If they pot a red, they can then continue by potting a colour.
However, if no red is potted then their opponent will play the next shot – going for a red first.
Each player must first pot a red ball when it’s their turn to play. If nothing is pocketed it is the other player’s turn at the table.
After each red is potted they must then follow with a colour, then a red, then a colour, and so on.
Whilst there are still red balls on the table, the potted colour balls are returned to their designated spot.
Once all the red balls are pocketed, the player at the table must pot the colours in the order as outlined above.
If they miss then their opponent will have the opportunity to clear the table.
A 147 is a maximum break when all reds are potted by one player in one stint at the table.
In order to achieve 147, the player must pot all 15 reds with 15 blacks for 120 points.
They must then clear all the colours, concluding with the black for 27 points.
During play the rules state that the cue must only touch the white cue ball.
The cue ball also must hit the correct colour ball – reds or colours in order.
If it hits the incorrect colour then a foul is called.
If the cue ball fails to hit any ball or is pocketed it is also a foul.
The player’s turn at the table ends if they play a foul shot.
Players are also penalised if they touch any ball on the table with their person.
As well as reaching the 1,000 centuries milestone, the world number 16 also pulled of a stunning double kiss during the fourth frame.
Although he went on to lose 4-3, Higgins was proud of his achievement after the match.
He explained: “It’s a good achievement. I’ve played this game for so long to get to that milestone. You have to be proud of that.
“I’m really proud. To be honest, I wanted to get there before Judd. I thought that I have a 14 year head start on him.
“It is good to be second to Ronnie O’Sullivan, the best ever. Judd will obviously go on and probably eclipse Ronnie’s century record.
eurosport
eurosportTop 5 century makers
- Ronnie O’Sullivan – 1,272
- John Higgins – 1,000
- Judd Trump – 998
- Neil Robertson – 948
- Mark Selby – 835
“I said to Mark that I was glad it was against an unbelievable player. I wouldn’t have liked it to be out the back on table four against a guy ranked 100. It was great to be on the main stage against him.
“We have shared some unbelievable battles over the years and that was another one.”
World number one Judd Trump could reach the milestone this week and currently sits on 998.
He took to social media to congratulate Higgins, writing on X: “Congratulations to John Higgins for making 1,000 centuries… what a career!!”
The Ace in the Pack faces Wu Yize in the quarter-finals at the Brentwood Centre on Friday.
Meanwhile, Allen’s reward for beating Higgins is a meeting with Chris Wakelin for a place in the last four.
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