John Higgins was recently branded ‘sad’ to watch by snooker rival Mark Allen.
John Higgins has revealed that he is seeing a sports psychologist in an effort to improve his form after he was branded ‘sad’ to watch by rival Mark Allen. Higgins was beaten by Allen at the Masters earlier this year but got his revenge by claiming a 5-2 victory at the German Masters on Thursday.
I’m trying to have a different mindset,” explained Higgins. “I’m doing a few things off the table to try and get my mind right, which I’ve never done in my career. It is early days, but it seems to be helping just now. I’ve got to do it. I can’t rely on myself. I’m not good enough to rely on myself.
“I maybe need a wee bit of help. I’m speaking to a person just to try and have good thoughts. For too long now, I’ve had negative thoughts. It is pleasing. I was 3-0 in front there and missed a blue to go 4-0. Mark came back to 3-2 and in other matches I might have thought I’d lose 5-3. There were more positive thoughts and it worked out.”
Higgins is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of his generation, having won 31 ranking titles over the course of his career. He has endured a steady decline over the last few years, though, and will be hoping that his use of a psychologist will aid his efforts to restore former glories.
The 48-year-old’s defeat to Allen last month was certainly a low point as it gave him the record for the most first-round exits at the Masters with 15. Allen went on to express his disappointment at witnessing Higgins in the twilight of his career, insisting that it was ‘sad’ to watch him struggle in the way that he did.
