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John Higgins wins snooker world championship 1998

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The profusion of snooker stars in Scotland can be attributed to two things: the popularity that television brought to the sport in the seventies and eigthies and the success of Stephen Hendry.
Before Hendry, Scotland hadn't had a snooker champion for almost half a century since Walter Donaldson in 1950.

Hendry's manager Ian Doyle has said that when he got involved in the sport in Scotland the prize money was ridiculous, with players earning £20 for winning championships. Doyle said: "Scotland is undoubtedly a fertile breeding ground now, and long may it continue, but changes had to be made to encourage players."

Now Hendry has been followed by fellow Scots Alan McManus and John Higgins to the top of the profession. Higgins is behind only Hendry and Steve Davis in titles won in the sport, equal with Ronnie O'sullivan and Mark Williams.

Of course that Scots are flourishing in an indoor sport associated with dark and smokey bars is purely coincidental.

Now there are fears within the sport that snooker will not recapture its heady days when it was the television sporting phenomenon, peaking with 18.5 million people who were glued to their screens watching the world final between Dennis Taylor and Steve Davis in 1985.

Television has made the green blaze sport lucrative, with John Higgins earning just under £3m in his 13-year career. But as viewing figures fall, the Wishaw-born star has said he would prefer his son to become a golfer rather than snooker player as there is more money to be made on the greens.

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Higgins' career has been anything but straightforward. He burst onto the scene in 1992 as a precocious 17 year old. Although he managed to reach the last 16 of the Grand Prix in his first season, his other results were only modest and he could only achieve a ranking of 122. Slightly better results in 1993/94 took him up to 51st but there were little signs of what was to about to happen.

In only the second event of the new season, the Grand Prix, he beat Dave Harold to take his first title. Not content with that he beat Steve Davis to win the International Open and followed that with victory over Ronnie O'sullivan to take the British Open as well. Three ranking titles in a season are rare enough but for someone ranked only 51st it was incredible, especially when you add runner-up in the Regal Welsh and the Benson & Hedges Masters, as well as a first visit to the Crucible.

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Higgins achieved his greatest ambition in snooker in 1998 when he won the Embassy World Championship. He beat Ken Doherty 18-12 in the final and that victory also gave him the world number one spot, which he held on to for two seasons. In 2001 he was back in the final at the Crucible but his hopes of regaining the world crown were dashed by O'sullivan, who ran out an 18-14 winner.

Twice a UK champion, Higgins boasts a total of 15 ranking event titles and started the 2004-05 season tied third on the all-time list, level with Ronnie O'sullivan and Mark Williams and behind Stephen Hendry (35) and Steve Davis (28).

But the career of the unassuming Scot has hit some dips before his triumphant return to form in 2005. In 2004 he said: "I'm very disappointed in the way I've played in the last couple of years."
Higgins himself has suggested that his loss of form was due to the birth of his son Pierce affecting his focus.

He added: "I might have to see a sports psychologist because my concentration is not good enough. When you are not winning your confidence goes and you start to doubt yourself. Sometimes it can be an easy game but it was horrible, it was torture."

The former St. Aidens High School pupil has a very down-to-earth lifestyle. The father of one married his childhood sweetheart Denise, and his biggest joy is going to see his beloved Celtic.

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Higgins, who began playing snooker as a nine year old and would miss school to go to the local snooker hall to practise, spends five hours daily at the table. In the past he would miss practice to go and watch Celtic but with his club's dominance over most teams they face, he now spends Saturday afternoons at the table also.

The unassuming player has admitted that despite being world champion in his sport he could walk down the street without being recognised. He has said: "People might think I'm a well-known sportsman but, unless I stroll down the street in a dickie-bow and a waistcoat, very few people will recognise me."

Written by: Gordon Cairns