Andrew Higginson
Name: Andrew Higginson
DOB: December 13th 1977
Nationality: English
Turned Pro: 1995
Highest Ranking: #38 (2008/9)
Current Ranking: #43
Highest Break: 147 (2007 Welsh Open)
Career Highlights: 2007 Welsh Open Finalist, 2007 Malta Cup Last 16, 2009 World Championship last 32, 2008 Welsh Open, UK Championship and Royal London Watches Grand Prix Last 32, first career 147 in his 2006 Welsh Open quarter-final
Career summary
A professional since 1995, it took Andrew a few years to make a mark and qualify for the main tour itself, but by finishing third on the UK order of merit, he did so for the 2000/1 season. His first spell on the tour was to be without note however as although he remained on the tour for a total of five years, his highest ranking was 68 in 2003/4 before he lost his place for the 2005/6 season.
Still, not dejected by this he dropped into snooker’s second tier, the PIOS and bounced back at the first attempt by finishing second, winning the last of the season’s eight events.
His next spell in the top league was to be a marked improvement as in the 2006/7 season he broke new ground by firstly reached the last 16 of the Malta Cup. In the qualifiers he defeated Jamie Jones, Shokat Ali, Jimmy White and David Gray before overcoming Simon Zammit and Steve Davis to earn a tie with defending champion Ken Doherty.
Welsh winning run
Though he lost this match 5-2, his run was clearly a boost to his confidence and he again went on a good run at the next tournament, the 2007 Welsh Open. Having qualified by beating Passakorn Suwannawat, Scott MacKenzie and Drew Henry, he reached his first ranking quarter-final with wins against Marco Fu, John Higgins and Michael Judge.
Once there though, few would have predicted what was to come against Ali Carter. Not only did he win the match 5-1 but he fired home his first maximum 147 break, earning himself £22,000 in the process. Now playing the best snooker of his career he defeated Stephen Maguire in his semi-final to reach his first final where he would meet Australian Neil Robertson.
Despite coming back from 6-2 down to lead 8-6 though, this proved to be one match to many as Robertson, himself enjoying a great season, came back to win it 9-8. Still this was by far the best result of Andrew’s career and although he failed to qualify for the season ending World Championship, he nevertheless ended the season ranked at a career high 44th.
2008/9
After a disappointing 2007/8 season where he failed to build on these successes and managed to qualify for just one venue, improvement was needed the following season if he was to hold on to a top 48 place.
This is exactly what came as he won the majority of his opening round matches, notably qualifying for the Grand Prix, UK Championship and World Championship to just about earn enough ranking points to cover those lost from reaching the Welsh final two years previously.
In particular, he played really well at the EIS in Sheffield during the World Championship qualifiers where he defeated both Jamie Jones and Michael Judge to qualify for the final stages for the very first time. As he told Snooker Scene Blog after the match:
“When I first started playing snooker, this is what it was all about. You can try to win tournaments but your goal is to play at the Crucible.
“It’s taken me something like 14 attempts and I’m just ecstatic. To be able to walk through that curtain where all the greats have walked through is amazing.
“I’m just going to enjoy it no matter who I draw and no matter what happens.
“You won’t see me with a sad face at the Crucible.”
In the end though he did not receive the kindest of draws as he was paired with world number three Shaun Murphy and despite running him close, eventually succumbed to a 10-8 defeat. As a result he was to drop down five places in the rankings to 43, but he begins 2009/10 up in 33rd on the provisional list and will be keen to break into the top 32 for the first time in his career…
