Higgins beat Ryan Day to claim his fourth Grand Prix title

John Higgins says he would not object to snooker's World Championship being moved away from Sheffield.

Scotland's two-time winner says it could be time the event had a new home after 31 years at the Crucible Theatre.

"I've won twice and also lost a final in Sheffield and they were great times, but I'm not sentimental," said Higgins.

"[But] if something bigger and better comes along and maybe the money could go up, there's no way that we should stay there."

Head of World Snooker Sir Rodney Walker says he has been approached about switching the event to among other places, China.

And Higgins, who won his fourth Grand Prix Championship on Sunday, believes it may be time to take the World Championship overseas.

"If China are going to come in and give more money compared to the Crucible, I'm all for it," added Higgins.

"We've got to move ahead and it's a bigger world now. There are so many more countries out there that like snooker, whereas 20 years ago it was maybe just the UK that really liked the game.

My main aim this year was to come in and try to win again and try to get my name mentioned alongside the great players John Higgins

"There are so many countries involved in trying to take the game of snooker on to another level and we should be embracing that.

"Hopefully, it can do well for all the players because that's what all the players want. We just want to be playing in more tournaments and, I suppose, winning more money."

Meanwhile, Higgins has revealed the motivation for his quest to regain a place among snooker's elite.

"It's a bit of vanity, I think," said the 33-year-old, who has seen himself recently eclipsed by O'Sullivan, Mark Selby, Shaun Murphy and compatriot Stephen Maguire.

"You hear everybody saying I used to be part of the 'big four', with Hendry, O'Sullivan, Williams and there's other people talking about the big four now.

"Obviously, Ronnie's still there, but with new ones: Selby, Murphy and Maguire.

"You think to yourself, 'I want to be spoken about in that breath because I still think I'm good enough to be spoken about in that company'.

"That was my main aim this year, to come in and try to win again and try to get my name mentioned alongside the great players. Because it's not nice when you fall away and people are not really expecting you to do anything.

"This must give me confidence to go on and play better this season. If it doesn't give you confidence, nothing will."

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