British Open 2024: John Higgins claims another remarkable record with win over Shaun Murphy, career No. 49 in main draw
Published 25/09/2024 at 21:01 GMT+1
John Higgins took another step towards regaining his place in the world's top 16 with a 4-2 win over Shaun Murphy in the second round of the British Open on Wednesday. Fresh from becoming only the second player in history to compile 1,000 career centuries at last week's English Open, the four-time world champion also became the most prolific match winner in the modern history of the British Open.
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John Higgins boosted his hopes of a rapid return to the world's top 16 with a 4-2 win over Shaun Murphy in the second round of the British Open in Cheltenham on Wednesday.
The Scot was nudged out of the top 16 for the first time since May 1995 after Neil Robertson's 9-7 win over Wu Yize in the English Open final on Sunday, but is well-placed to reclaim his spot among the elite.
The 31-time ranking event winner is only 11,650 points behind world No. 16 Jak Jones before he faces compatriot and friend Graeme Dott on Thursday afternoon in the last 32, aiming to remain in the hunt for a record fifth British Open triumph.
The Wishaw professional's latest match with 2006 world champion Dott is also repeat of the 2001 British Open final, which Higgins won 9-6 in Newcastle.
Playing with a new cue, Higgins produced breaks of 74, 56 and 82 in fending off Murphy, who recovered from 3-0 to 3-2 behind with a 57 and 84.
A week after he became the second man in history to reach 1,000 career centuries behind Ronnie O'Sullivan at the English Open in Brentwood, Higgins also became the most prolific match winner in British Open history.
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Since making his event debut in 1993, a year after he turned professional, Higgins has now won 61 times, 49 in the main draw without qualifiers, amid title victories in 1995, 1998, 2001 and 2004.
"My new cue seems to have given me a new lease of life," said Higgins, who wants to be back in the top 16 ahead of the Masters in January.
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"Graeme is a brilliant player. I rate him more than anybody, and it looks like he is hitting the ball well again.
"It gives me something to aim for, to get back in time for the Masters. I've played there for 30 consecutive years and I wouldn't want that run to end."
To illustrate his remarkable longevity in the sport, Higgins' first appeared at the British Open in 1993 and completed wins over John Virgo, the 1979 UK winner, and 1979 world champion Terry Griffiths before losing to Jimmy White in the last eight at the Assembly Rooms in Derby.
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