Furious John Higgins storms off in disgust as snooker match halted before deciding frame

John Higgins was near seething aft his quarter-final against Chris Wakelin astatine the International Championship successful China was suspended with conscionable 1 framework near to play

John Higgins blew his apical and stormed retired of the arena aft his lucifer with Chris Wakelin was curtailed with conscionable 1 framework left.

The brace were embroiled successful an engrossing quarter-final astatine the International Championship snooker successful Nanjing, China, which went each the mode to a last frame. However, to the evident vexation and astonishment of Higgins, they had to hold hours for the decider to instrumentality spot aft the day league overran.

After Wakelin made it 5-5 successful the best-of-11 affair, the Wizard of Wishaw returned to his seat, expecting the match-deciding framework to instrumentality spot determination and then. However, with the commencement of the evening league – which featured Chinese leader Ding Junhui’s quarter-final against world champion Kyren Wilson – conscionable minutes away, play was curtailed.

After realising what was happening, Higgins looked furious and appeared to rima a curse connection earlier storming off, with adjacent the referee looking amazed astatine the crook of events.

It was the 2nd time successful a enactment that a Higgins lucifer had been held up successful specified circumstances. Eurosport commentator Philip Studd said: “Higgins has conscionable been told that’s it, and you saw his reaction, helium wasn’t happy. Goodness me. You’ve got to presume that’s the extremity of proceedings.

“Once again, for the 2nd time running, John Higgins volition beryllium coming backmost for the evening league which is owed to commencement successful 35 minutes.”

But chap commentator and erstwhile pro Neal Foulds felt officials had nary prime but to halt play. He added: “He’s perfectly enraged by it but I deliberation they’ve made the close determination due to the fact that there’s a lucifer to beryllium played successful half-an-hour, crowds to travel successful and out. Common consciousness prevails.”

GET INVOLVED! What bash you deliberation of John Higgins' meltdown? Tell america successful the comments section.

Higgins’ temper didn’t amended erstwhile the lucifer resumed arsenic Wakelin took the last framework to acceptable up a semi-final clash against caller Wuhan Open victor Xiao Guodong, who bushed Jackson Page 6-4.

There was further Chinese occurrence arsenic Ding defeated the in-form Wilson. Ding volition look compatriot Xu Si, who came from 5-3 down to bushed Gary Wilson 6-5 successful their last-eight tie.

Order our peculiar UK Championship work HERE.

Join our WhatsApp assemblage and person your regular dose of Mirror Football content. We besides dainty our assemblage members to peculiar offers, promotions, and adverts from america and our partners. If you don't similar our community, you tin cheque retired immoderate clip you like. If you're curious, you tin work our Privacy Notice.