John Higgins has explained why he can never be friends with snooker rival Mark Williams

John Higgins faces Ronnie O’Sullivan in the last 16 of the World Snooker Championship at the Crucible on Saturday

John Higgins has admitted to not sharing a close relationship with the likes of Mark Williams or Ronnie O’Sullivan, despite their numerous encounters over the years. Higgins and O’Sullivan are set to meet at the World Snooker Championship on Saturday.

Part of the sport’s celebrated Class of ’92 alongside Williams Higgins and O’Sullivan, have been fixtures throughout each other’s 34-year careers. Their forthcoming last-16 clash at the Crucible will mark their 80th encounter, with the competitors having secured a combined 11 world championships and 74 ranking titles.

‘The Rocket’ arranged a showdown with Higgins after beating China’s He Guoqiang 10-2, while ‘The Wizard of Wishaw’ progressed to the second round with a 10-7 triumph over Ali Carter. Williams, meanwhile, has to overcome a 10-6 deficit against Barry Hawkins as their match resumes on Saturday.

Nevertheless, Higgins has acknowledged he would not regard O’Sullivan as a friend. At least not in the traditional sense.

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“I get asked about that and it’s the same answer I give, I don’t really know Ronnie at all,” Higgins told the Talking Snooker podcast in 2023. “When you think all these years we’ve been on the tour, we’ve never really been that close, I could count on one hand the amount of meals we’ve had together.

“But I’ve got the utmost respect for him as a snooker player. Incredible player and I think it goes back to what I said about Mark Williams. Going for the same titles, you cannot be all that friendly with each other.

“Respect of course, but being friends, nah. We’re different characters as well, the three of us, totally different characters.

Higgins explained that competing for the same titles had strained his relationship with Class of ’92 icon Williams in the past. However, seven-time world champion O’Sullivan has shared a different reason for wanting to keep his distance from other players on the snooker circuit.

“I think Mark and John are better friends than I am with them,” O’Sullivan said to TNT Sports. “I don’t really get close to anyone on the snooker circuit, because I don’t really hang around tournaments.”

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“No one sees me, I’d rather be down the gym or go running, or go to nice restaurants, while a lot of the players hang out with each other.”

He added: “I don’t want to talk about snooker, I get bored talking about rankings, about what world snooker is doing. I have zero interest in snooker as far as that’s concerned. I choose to separate work from my off time.”