John Higgins ‘brutally honest’ on his game ahead of Shenzhen Open challenge

John Higgins is not putting much shine on his current form, admitting he is not feeling great in his game, but knows things can turn around quickly.

The Wizard of Wishaw is still ranked number six in the world at 51 years old and finished last season impressively with a run to the Crucible semi-finals.

It has been a slow start to the current campaign, though, pulling out of a couple of tournaments and his best run in a ranking event being the last 16 of the British Open.

He has a busy time over the rest of 2026, starting with the Shenzhen Open where he takes on David Grace in his opener on Tuesday.

The four-time world champion will go in as clear favourite for that match, but is not pretending he will be full of confidence going into it.

‘Not great, to be brutally honest, not great,’ Higgins told WST on his game at the moment. ‘Listen, it can change I’m sure, but its been a tough start and obviously I need to get potting balls and winning matches soon.

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‘As I said earlier in the season it’s tough to put the hours in. But it’s coming into the winter a bit, you might want to stay in the practice room for an extra hour when the weather’s not so good outside. Hopefully that can maybe help me.’

Higgins has admitted that practice has become a chore and motivation is extremely low to put the hours in away from tournaments.

He has retirement on the mind and sees 2028 as a likely end date to his legendary career, but for now will keep trying to lift yet more silverware.

If he can beat Grace, his friend and long-time practice partner Stephen Maguire awaits in the last 32.

‘Great memories travelling with him, but I don’t really remember too much of it now!’ Higgins joked of his time on tour with Maguire. ‘They start off great memories!

‘He’s always been one of my best mates on the tour over the years. Hopefully I can get through to play him and hopefully it’ll be a good game.’

In contrast to how Higgins is feeling, Mark Selby arrives in Shenzhen full of confidence in his game.

Another four-time world champion, Selby has had an excellent season so far, winning the China Open and reaching the final of the British Open, where he fell at the last hurdle to Jak Jones.

‘Its probably the best start I’ve had to a season since I’ve been professional,’ he said. ‘I normally slowly work my way into a season and pick up halfway through.

‘I can’t complain, I’ve had a good start. I played okay in Shanghai, I know I lost first game but still played well. Won the China Open which is a big tournament now on our calendar. It sets you up for the season, puts you in all the [Players] Series events. I’ve had the pressure taken off me for them. So you can just go out there and relax and try and just enjoy your snooker.’

This year’s China Open title was Selby’s fourth and his eighth ranking event win in the country.

‘Over the years I’ve had a decent record out in China, winning some big tournaments and playing some good stuff,’ he said. ‘Hopefully with the start I’ve had to this season and the confident form I’m in, I can try and add to that.’

Selby gets his campaign underway on Tuesday against either local wildcard Chen Qi’en or Andrew Higginson.

The tournament begins on Monday with Ronnie O’Sullivan taking on Jiang Jun and world number one Zhao Xintong facing Scott Donaldson, both at 12.30pm UK time.

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