Ace’s woes
John Higgins admits he is struggling for motivation to play professional snooker, saying: ‘It’s tough when you’ve worked in a dark room for 40-odd years.’
Higgins – who got knocked out in the quarter-final stages – said: “I’m struggling. Struggling with motivation.
“It’s after the big high that I had for my birthday, going to Dallas and different things. I’m really struggling for motivation. I really am.
“I’ll play this event and then take a month off and then see where I am at. I don’t know if I should have come to this event.
“I’m struggling with my technique. That’s just all down to me not putting hours in.
“My technique is really all over the place. I’m just one of the guys that I need to be on it — or I need to feel as if I’m on it.
“Maybe play at least a couple of hours a day. But I’m struggling to put half an hour in. And at this level you cannot mix it with the best players.”
Snook Littler
Stan Moody thrashed Barry Hawkins in a “freak performance” at the Wuhan Open to break new ground in his career.
Having snapped the Ding Junhui curse this week in China, the 18-year-old then marched into a maiden quarter-final of a ranking snooker tournament where he was knocked out.
But what he did away from the table raised some eyebrows.
SunSport’s Rob Maul explained what happened.
Ronnie’s future
After pulling out from the Wuhan Open, Ronnie O’Sullivan told TNT Sports: “I am going to give myself two years.
“There will be no more exhibitions or distractions off the table.
“I will help out at the academy in Saudi Arabia.
“I enjoy the work I am doing there and hopefully we can do something similar in the UK because my true love is to help people and give back.
“That helps me to learn from other people. Otherwise, it will just be tournaments and getting fit.”
Ron away
The third ranking event of the season has now reached the semi-finals, but snooker legend Ronnie O’Sullivan is nowhere to be seen.
The seven-time world champion withdrew from the Wuhan Open after losing an incredible final to Neil Robertson at the Saudi Arabia Masters.
He was due to face fellow Englishman Allan Taylor in his tournament opener, but pulled out due to “medical reasons” and was replaced by Germany’s Umut Dikme.
Can Xiao retain his crown?
Xiao Guodong beat Si Jiahui 10-7 in last year’s final to secure his first ever ranking title.
He fiercely ended Stan Moody’s stunning run in the quarter-finals, defeating the promising 18-year-old star 5-2.
With world No1 Judd Trump crashing out in the last-16 stage and Ronnie O’Sullivan withdrawing from the Open, Xiao will certainly fancy his chances at going back-to-back.
Having already made the semi-final, all eyes are on the reigning champ to see if he can defend his title on home turf.
Not so Moody
18-year-old Stan Moody continues to impress, and he has certainly built on that with his success in Wuhan.
Moody’s run to the quarter-finals is a career-best in a ranking event for the teenage sensation.
Unfortunately, he went crashing out at the hands of champ Xiao Guodong.
But the talented teen can be proud!
