JOHN HIGGINS had to check a fan during his Masters semi-final against Judd Trump
Higgins was two frames behind Trump, who originally held a 3-0 lead, when the Masters crowd at Alexandra Palace started to get a little too vocal.
The legendary Scot was in the heat of the fifth frame trying to claw his way back against Trump when an eager supporter shouted out of turn
It wasn’t a nasty exchange. In fact, it was a fan trying to spur the 50-year-old on.
But shouting at the height of concentration meant Higgins had to respond.
The supporter said: “Come on, Johnny!”
Higgins said: “Calm down, pal. Calm down.”
The match referee also told the fan to be quiet, noting that he had to “get the right timing.”
Maybe the fan did encourage Higgins after all as the four-time world champion went on to score a century in the fifth frame, cutting Trump’s lead down to 3-2 at the time.
Higgins went on to win the affair 6-5 after trailing 5-3 at one point.
He has been 5-3 down in two matches against the world’s best during the Masters and he’s in the final.
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After the win, Higgins was well aware of how big it is to overcome somebody of the calibre of Trump.
He said: “He [Judd Trump] is so tough to play against. I missed a couple of reds to put myself safe and then he did what he always does which is clear up.
“Even at 5-3 I didn’t give up. It was the same against Zhao Xintong. Who knows, maybe my name is the the trophy? You just don’t know.
“I think I’m a better player now than I’ve ever been. You play these great champions like Judd and I’ve lost the last few against him.
“At the start of the match he should maybe have been 4-0 in front and I maybe made it too easy for him. The fourth frame was massive because 4-0 it’s done, but 3-1 I had hope.”
When he takes his place in the final tomorrow, he’ll be looking to become the oldest triple crown winner ever.
He is seeking a third Masters win to go alongside his victories in 1999 and 2006. He will meet Kyren Wilson or Wu Yize.
