John Higgins criticizes playing conditions at Riyadh Season Snooker Championship
John Higgins has launched a fierce criticism of the playing conditions at the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship, branding the table “pathetic” after claiming it had been propped up with beer mats to increase its height, reports BritPanorama.
The four-time world champion made the accusation moments after sweeping past China’s Ding Junhui 4–0 to reach the quarter-finals in Saudi Arabia. Despite the dominant scoreline, both players appeared uncomfortable on the table. Ding, 38, registered just 47 points across four frames, while Higgins struggled to find rhythm until ending the match with back-to-back 106 breaks.
With nearly four decades of experience on the professional circuit, the 50-year-old Scot was adamant that the conditions were far from acceptable at an event carrying huge financial incentives. Higgins, who faces defending champion Mark Allen next, highlighted that the playing surface was unfit for a tournament offering £250,000 to the winner and an additional $1 million bonus for any player who can achieve a rare 167 break – a 147 maximum plus the competition’s special 20-point Golden Ball.
“It was a little bit difficult at the time. I think me and Ding really struggled with the table,” he said. Higgins elaborated on his frustrations, emphasizing the lack of grip on the table that impeded shot control. “You can’t stop the cue-ball. I think it’s the cushions. The cushions were playing really, really fast. That makes it very difficult to play on.”
Some players on the opening day of the event at Boulevard City in Riyadh had already noted that the cloth felt unusually quick. Higgins, however, went further in his complaints, stating there was “no grip whatsoever,” making cue ball management challenging. He remarked, “You could probably see the first couple of frames, I am trying to stun the cue-ball and it’s just rolling through.”
Seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry, working as a pundit for the host broadcaster, inspected the table and agreed that the raised height was noticeable. “I actually thought it was part of the design of the table,” he said, adding that this construction might stem from an uneven floor beneath.
In response to Higgins’ claims, a World Snooker Tour spokesperson defended the installation, insisting that the table met official measurements. “The table is regulation height in accordance with the WPBSA Official Rules of Snooker, measured from floor to the top of the cushion rail,” the statement read. The spokesperson emphasized that extensive quality checks were conducted prior to the event to ensure compliance.
As the tournament progresses, it remains to be seen how the criticism will influence player performances and the overall atmosphere at this high-stakes event. The juxtaposition of lofty prizes with the grim realities of the playing conditions serves as a sobering reminder of the complex, often unspoken challenges that accompany competitive sport.
