JOHN Higgins sent a transfixed crowd into raptures at Saltaire Bar in Shipley last Friday night, as the Scottish snooker icon produced a sensational 147 in frame four of an exhibition event.
His poor opponent Lewis Walsh was only able to play one shot, the break, as Higgins rattled in 15 reds and 15 blacks, before clearing up the colours to achieve snooker’s holy grail.
Despite his busy schedule, Higgins was more than happy to attend last week’s event, organised by Gilstead snooker aficionado Keith Walker, laughing and joking with the crowd while taking on 10 of the best local amateur players.
His 147 was the highlight of the night, with fan footage of the back end of that fourth frame kindly supplied to the T&A by someone in attendance.
Watch it below:
As well as that maximum, Higgins hit also hit century breaks against Trevor Wood and Nial Idem.
The Scot, a four-time world champion and current world number 11, unsurprisingly won all 10 frames on the night, but was pushed all the away in the penultimate one by Mark Slater.
The amateur found himself 55-16 in front, before the nerveless Higgins produced a break of 48, landing the final pink to claim a narrow victory.
He was on hand for photographs before the exhibition began, he signed memorabilia at the interval, and took part in a Q&A before the end of the night.
Higgins also found time to talk to the T&A, just before the Q&A.
Asked if it was always special to hit a 147, which he has only 12 of in a 31-year professional career, he told us: “Of course, especially as a lot of people have come out on a Friday night to watch me here and paid good money to attend.
“It’s good to reward them a little bit and show them a 147 up close and personal.
“I'm really pleased that I've done that for them.”
Higgins was pushed to the wire by Slater and there were plenty of moments of brilliance from other amateurs on the night too.
The Scot said: “There were some really good players in there tonight, absolutely.
“It's tough to win every match at these exhibitions, because when you come to some of these clubs and areas, you’ve got good club or county players, as well as the odd ex-professional.
“You very rarely win them all.”
Wyke’s Joe Cullen and Keighley’s Chris Melling are two of Britain’s best darts and pool players respectively, with both having told the T&A in the past how much they enjoy exhibition events as a break from the professional tour.
Higgins concurs, saying: “I love doing them.
“I don't do them as much as maybe some of the other players, but whenever I do, I always enjoy them.
“You meet the fans, you get a few pictures taken with them, and it's always good fun.”
The 47-year-old is the latest in a long line of snooker stars Walker, a Crucible regular for over 40 years, has persuaded to come to the Bradford District over the last few years for exhibitions or talks, with Mark Williams, Steve Davis and Ken Doherty among the others.
Higgins said: “I’ve heard good things every time Keith’s had other players down here.
“They’ve told me he puts on a great night so I was only too delighted to come down and play.
“I hope the fans enjoyed it tonight.”
RESULTS FROM JOHN HIGGINS' 10-FRAME EXHIBITION IN SHIPLEY:
Frame 1 - John Higgins 84 James Metcalfe 10 (highest break of 42)
Frame 2 - John Higgins 108 Richard Harrison 8 (57)
Frame 3 - John Higgins 132 Dave Robson 1 (88)
Frame 4 - John Higgins 147 Lewis Walsh 0 (147)
Frame 5 - John Higgins 95 Craig Farrar 18 (89)
Frame 6 - John Higgins 136 Stuart Harker 5 (71)
Frame 7 - John Higgins 117 Trevor Wood 24 (117)
Frame 8 - John Higgins 104 Nial Idem 3 (104)
Frame 9 - John Higgins 64 Mark Slater 55 (48)
Frame 10 - John Higgins 71 Jamie O'Reilly 22 (40)
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