JOHN HIGGINS TIPS JUDD TRUMP TO OVERTAKE RONNIE O’SULLIVAN RECORD AFTER EMULATING ROCKET – ‘HE’LL PROBABLY ECLIPSE IT’
John Higgins won snooker’s sale of the century at the English Open when he pipped Judd Trump in the race to become the second man in history to reach 1,000 career centuries. Trump drew level with the Scot on 998 in a 4-2 win over Fan Zhengyi earlier on Thursday, but runs of 108 and 105 sealed the record for Higgins in a 4-3 last-16 defeat to Mark Allen. Ronnie O’Sullivan reached the total in 2019.
John Higgins became the second man to walk on the green baize moon in Brentwood on Thursday night when he reached 1,000 career centuries in a 4-3 loss to Mark Allen in the English Open last 16.
Despite being narrowly edged out by the Northern Irishman in a tight battle in Essex, Higgins declared himself a “proud” man after following fellow ‘Class of ’92’ member Ronnie O’Sullivan into the sport’s record books.
World No. 1 Judd Trump had moved onto 998 with a classy 101 in his 4-2 win over Fan Zhenghi earlier in the day, but breaks of 108 and 105 helped Higgins finally settle the historic century joust in his favour.
Snooker GOAT O’Sullivan is on 1,272 centuries and counting since becoming the first player to reach the landmark total in Preston five years ago.
“It’s a good achievement,” Higgins told reporters. “I’ve played this game for so long to get to that milestone. You have to be proud of that.
“I’m really proud. To be honest, I wanted to get there before Judd. I thought that I have a 14-year head start on him.
“It is good to be second to Ronnie O’Sullivan, the best ever. Judd will obviously go on and probably eclipse Ronnie’s century record.”
Trump turned professional in 2005 and has averaged a formidable 53 centuries a year in 19 years on tour with Higgins producing 31 over 32 years and O’Sullivan averaging 40 tons a year.
Assuming O’Sullivan never made another century in his record-breaking career, it would take 35-year-old Trump another five years on his current trajectory to challenge for top spot.
With a vast increase in events on the World Snooker Tour circuit, there is a chance Trump could go close to O’Sullivan, who will only increase the target this season.
But Australia’s greatest player Neil Robertson, on 948 in fourth spot, is also in the conversation.
As it is, Higgins is happy the history books will record him as the second man to emulate the Rocket. to Higgins after 1,000th century
“I said to Mark that I was glad it was against an unbelievable player,” he said. “I wouldn’t have liked it to be out the back on table four against a guy ranked 100.
“It was great to be on the main stage against him. We have shared some unbelievable battles over the years, and that was another one.”
Allen – who lost 13-12 to Higgins in an epic World Championship last-16 joust in April – produced a century of his own in the opening frame on his way to securing a quarter-final meeting with Chris Wakelin on Friday afternoon.
“I wanted John to have his moment when he did it, and enjoy that 1000th century,” said the world No. 3, who will reclaim second place in the rankings with a win over Wakelin. “We were just about to start the next frame, and I went to congratulate him on my own. He said to me he was glad to have done it against someone like me.
“That means a lot coming from John. I actually said to him at the end, it was a shame he had to be on the losing side after creating a piece of history.
“What a guy John Higgins is. He thoroughly deserves that.”
Meanwhile, Higgins’ remarkable record of staying in the top 16 since 1995 remains in some doubt after world No. 17 Barry Hawkins closed the gap to 7,000 points with a 4-2 win over world champion Kyren Wilson on Thursday night.
A win for Hawkins over Neil Robertson in the last eight on Friday night would see him overtake Higgins on the provisional list, while Robertson or Wakelin would need to win the event to oust Higgins from the elite top 16.
SNOOKER’S GREATEST CENTURIONS
1. Ronnie O’Sullivan (Eng) – 1,272
2. John Higgins (Sco) – 1000
3. Judd Trump (Eng) – 998
4. Neil Robertson (Aus) – 948
5. Mark Selby (Eng) – 835