Veteran snooker professional John Higgins has launched a scathing attack on the playing conditions at the prestigious Riyadh Season Snooker Championship, labelling the tables 'pathetic' and comparing their setup to being propped up by beer mats.
A Victory Marred by Controversy
The four-time world champion, known as The Wizard of Wishaw, secured his place in the quarter-finals on Wednesday with a comprehensive 4-0 whitewash over Chinese opponent Ding Junhui. Despite the convincing scoreline, the match was far from straightforward, with both players visibly struggling to adapt to the table.
Higgins, 50, and Ding, 38, found the opening frames particularly challenging. Ding managed to score just 47 points across the entire match, while Higgins toiled before finding his rhythm and securing consecutive breaks of 106.
'No Bite Whatsoever' on the Cloth
Speaking to TNT Sports after his win, Higgins did not hold back in his assessment. 'It was a little bit difficult at the start,' he admitted. 'I think me and Ding really struggled with the table. The first couple of frames there was no bite on the table.'
He elaborated on the specific issues, claiming the cloth lacked any grip, which made controlling the cue ball nearly impossible for his playing style. 'It's as if there's beer mats underneath the whole table,' he quipped, expressing his frustration that such conditions were present at a million-pound tournament.
When pressed for clarification by snooker legend Stephen Hendry, Higgins stated, '[There was] no grip whatsoever. I was trying to stun, and it's just rolling through. You can't stop the cue ball... well I couldn't with my cue action!' He also noted that the cushions were playing 'really, really fast', compounding the difficulty.
Official Response and Tournament Context
In response to the criticism, a World Snooker Tour spokesperson defended the setup. They confirmed that the table height was measured and found to be in strict accordance with WPBSA Official Rules, a fact that was reportedly demonstrated to Higgins after his match.
'The tournament director demonstrated this fact to John after the match to prove all legs of the table were comfortably within regulation tolerance,' the spokesperson said, adding that their leading table fitters were on site to ensure optimal playing conditions.
The tournament in Saudi Arabia has already created headlines with shock results, notably Ronnie O'Sullivan's 4-0 defeat to Shaun Murphy. It has also introduced a unique 'golden ball' rule, offering a staggering $1 million (£787,000) bonus—more than the tournament's total prize fund—for any player who can pot it after achieving a maximum 147 break.
Higgins, who earned £25,000 for his win over Ding, now faces defending champion Mark Allen in the quarter-finals, where he stands to win another £50,000—hopefully on a table that offers a better experience for the seasoned pro.
