John Higgins, who made his debut in 1995, was eclipsed in last year’s final by Judd Trump.
LONDON: Four-time champion John Higgins said he was “heart-breaking” to miss his annual visit to snooker’s World Championship for the first time in 25 years.
Higgins’ told tournament sponsors Betfred: “For the past 25 years I have been getting myself ready at this time to go down to Sheffield. I haven’t missed a year and that’s more than half of my life.
“It’s heart-breaking, but we know there are more important things out there going on. One day hopefully we’ll be back there competing.”
Higgins made his Crucible debut in 1995, losing in the first round to Alan McManus. In the past three years, punctuated with threats to retire, he has been beaten in the final by Mark Selby, Mark Williams and Judd Trump.
Snooker is also in a lockdown mode
The championship was meant to start at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, northern England, on Saturday, with Higgins — runner-up in the past three editions — one of the favourites.
But with Britain in lockdown due to coronavirus, snooker has followed major sports worldwide in coming to a standstill.
In the past three years, punctuated with threats to retire, he has been beaten in the final by Mark Selby, Mark Williams and Judd Trump.
“I’ve got to take heart from reaching those finals, it shows I’m doing something right. “I tried my hardest but just came up against three unbelievable champions,” said Higgins, who won in 1998, 2007, 2009 and 2011.
