Scottish snooker icon John Higgins is aiming to rediscover top form at the Masters by improving his fitness, even going as far as installing a gym at home to help him lose weight and sharpen his focus.
The four-time world champion begins his latest Masters campaign at Alexandra Palace this week, hoping to claim the prestigious invitational title for the first time in 20 years. Now 50, Higgins admits his weight has crept back up after previously making major strides with his conditioning, and he believes getting fitter could once again have a positive impact on his performances.
Ahead of his opening-round match against Barry Hawkins, Higgins acknowledged that his physical condition had been affecting him. He explained that building a gym at home was a way to reignite his motivation and return to the fitness levels he enjoyed a few years ago, adding that improved physical health can also strengthen a player’s mental approach to the game.
Higgins previously made headlines after losing five stone following an intense summer training programme, which he undertook alongside his wife Denise. That period coincided with a strong run of form, as he reached five finals in a season and won multiple titles. While he did not lift trophies during part of that spell, Higgins believes feeling fitter helped him compete more consistently at the highest level.
Now ranked inside the world’s top ten and coming off a season in which he claimed two major titles, Higgins is keen to shed some of the weight he has regained. He says he has equipped his home gym with cardio machines and weights, noting advice that strength training becomes increasingly important with age.
A win over Hawkins would see Higgins progress to a quarter-final against either reigning world champion Zhao Xintong or England’s Gary Wilson. Lifting the Masters trophy would require four consecutive victories and earn a £350,000 prize, but Higgins is realistic about the challenge ahead, knowing he would likely have to overcome leading contenders such as Judd Trump and defending champion Shaun Murphy.
Ronnie O’Sullivan will not be among those obstacles after withdrawing from the tournament for medical reasons. Murphy, meanwhile, returns to Alexandra Palace eager to defend his title, having beaten Kyren Wilson in last season’s final.
With the Masters once again staged in front of packed crowds at snooker’s most atmospheric venue, Higgins hopes renewed fitness and focus can help him turn back the clock and mount a serious challenge for one of the sport’s most coveted honours.
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