John Higgins expressed anger on the taking part in circumstances regardless of safely reaching the quarter-finals of the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship on Wednesday.
The Scot swept previous Ding Junhui 4-0 with a pair of 106 breaks however stated each gamers struggled to adapt to what he described as an unacceptable desk setup for such a profitable occasion.
The invitational in Saudi Arabia carries a high prize of £250,000, with a jackpot bonus value $1,000,000 additionally on supply ought to a participant make a uncommon 167 break utilizing a 20-point golden ball particularly launched for this occasion.
Regardless of his comparatively routine outing, the Scot lambasted the desk – together with the material and the cushions – and questioned the way it wasn’t examined correctly earlier than the match started.
“It was a bit bit tough firstly,” John Higgins informed TNT Sports activities after confirming his spot within the final eight.
“I feel me and Ding each actually struggled with the desk. Within the first couple of frames, there was no chunk on the desk.”
“With me and Ding being solely about five-foot-five every, we actually struggled with the desk. It’s as if there’s beer mats beneath the desk, and it’s raised up.
“Any person actually must get informed. I don’t know who has handed that, nevertheless it’s pathetic for a million-pound match. It truly is unhealthy.
“Ding gave me a number of probabilities clearly, after which within the third body I achieved 100 break [sic]. I felt I bought via the ball a bit bit higher.
“Within the final body, I performed fairly nicely as nicely. So I’m delighted to win clearly.”
Higgins, who not too long ago reached the ultimate of the Worldwide Championship the place he misplaced to Wu Yize, will face reigning Riyadh Season Snooker Championship winner Mark Allen on Thursday.
Shaun Murphy was the opposite participant to emerge with a quarter-final berth on Wednesday, the Magician safely negotiating his opening two rounds.
Because the lowest seed among the many skilled gamers, Murphy was pressured to contest one in every of two video games within the spherical of 12 towards the native wildcard amateurs.
The British Open champion simply ousted Ziyad Alqabbani 4-0 earlier than repeating the whitewash show towards Ronnie O’Sullivan.
The latter was the inaugural winner of this occasion in March final yr, a victory that really represents his final on the primary tour.
However regardless of being glad together with his total degree of play of late, O’Sullivan wasn’t on the races right here and Murphy took full benefit.
Zhao Xintong will likely be subsequent on the agenda for the reigning Masters champion, with the opposite quarter-final ties pitting Judd Trump towards Mark Williams and Kyren Wilson with Neil Robertson.
The Riyadh Season Snooker Championship lasts solely three days and is performed throughout a brief format, with most matches adopting the best-of-seven frames format.
The quarter-finals are on Thursday earlier than each semi-finals and the best-of-nine closing will likely be contested on Friday.
Extra particulars concerning the match, together with the draw and schedule, can be found by clicking right here.
Photographs credit score: WST
