John Higgins has followed up his criticism of table conditions at the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship by revealing he was asked to change in a toilet at the elite event. World Snooker Tour has promised to address the situation after the Scot expressed he was unhappy with the backstage facilities in Saudi Arabia. “There has to be more space for the players,” said the four-time world champion.
World Snooker Tour (WST) has responded to John Higgins after the four-time world champion said he was asked to change in a toilet during the £785,000 Riyadh Season Snooker Championship in Saudi Arabia.
“This season, we are gathering more feedback from players, sharing that information with them and looking at ways we can improve each tournament, working with our partners,” said WST in a statement.
Higgins had lamented table conditions on TNT Sports during his opening match against Ding Junhui last week, a contest he won 4-0, but said that was not the only issue at the 12-man invitational tournament.
The world No. 6 lost 4-2 to defending champion Mark Allen in a turgid quarter-final match that saw both men fail to find peak form with preparation clearly an issue for Higgins.
“There really needs to be things done,” Higgins said on Wednesday in an interview with Sporting Life.
“I was staying an hour away, and I went over with my clothes to get ready, and I’m asking the tournament director, have you any dressing rooms?
“He said you can change in a toilet there, or you can change behind the stairs with a black curtain.
“It’s not good enough. I don’t know who is there actually fighting for the players to say: ‘No, that’s not good enough’.”
Higgins misses out on 167 in dramatic fashion!
The Wishaw player came closest to reaching the $1m (£750,000) Golden Ball at the three-day event last year, breaking down on the colours in the quest to produce the first 167 in history by slotting an extra ball after the final black of a 147.
“There has to be dressing rooms, there has to be more space for the players,” said the Scot, who earned £50,000 for his trip to the Middle East.
“We realise it is an incredible event with a lot of money, but the backstage facilities for the players to get themselves ready and get themselves up for the event were so below par, it was unbelievable. It was poor.”
WST has said it will take the issues raised by Higgins on board as the tournament organisers strive to improve backstage facilities for the professional game.
“The arena was packed from the first session, and we feel that snooker is really growing in Saudi Arabia.
“Regarding the backstage facilities, there is limited space at the venue, and given the circumstances, we provided the best possible facilities for the players, including an improved Players Lounge area.”
Recent International Championship runner-up Higgins, who is set to chase a fourth UK Championship in York next week, could not disguise his discontent with the table size.
“With me and Ding, we’re only about 5ft 5in each, we really struggled with the table, there’s so many – as if it’s beer mats underneath the table and it’s raised up,” said Higgins, who won the World Open and Tour Championship earlier this year.
