How John Higgins could rival Ronnie O'Sullivan and Stephen Hendry with record World Snooker Championship title triumph - 'So tough'

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Ronnie O’Sullivan saw his latest bid for a record eighth world title, an achievement that would see him overtake Stephen Hendry's 1990s Crucible haul, ended by John Higgins in an epic 13-12 defeat in the last 16 of the World Championship in Sheffield on Monday afternoon.

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Video credit: TNT Sports

But the evergreen Scotsman has his own reasons for trying to claim a fifth title of his own at the sport's biggest event.

At the age of 50, Higgins will become the oldest world champion in history if he lifts the title this year, usurping fellow Class of '92 icon O’Sullivan by four years after his 18-13 final win over Judd Trump at the age of 46 in 2022.

And he could also become the only player in the modern professional era to lift the world title in four different decades, an achievement that is unlikely to be overtaken in the years ahead.

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Higgins secured his first Crucible title in 1998 with an 18-12 win over Ken Doherty, with his other title triumphs coming against Mark Selby (18-13) in 2007, Shaun Murphy (18-9) in 2009 and Judd Trump (18-15) in 2011.

He has also lost finals in Sheffield to Selby (18-15) in 2017, Mark Williams (18-16) in 2018 and Trump (18-9) in 2019, which could have seen him match Hendry’s modern-day record of seven titles.

But a fifth crown in four different decades would be an astonishing achievement in its own right, a unique moment in the history of the game.

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Higgins fought back to leave his quarter-final with Neil Robertson level at 6-6 on Wednesday after a dour and turgid opening session in his quest to become the fifth most prolific champion of the Crucible era. The match will resume at 19:00 UK time.

”I would love to [win a fifth], but it’s a long tournament," said Higgins, who defeated Ali Carter 10-7 in the first round, on talkSPORT.

”I have got Neil Robertson up next, and he is an unbelievable champion.

”He is a guy that should have won it multiple times, he has only won it the once, and he will be aiming to win it. That’s what is so tough about this game.

”You scale the heights yesterday but you walk out again and have to climb the mountain against Neil Robertson.

"I am taking nothing for granted.”