Higgins closing in on historic snooker feat as he meets World Cup-winning partner Maguire in Nanjing
Four players remain at the 2025 International Championship in Nanjing, and the destination of the £175,000 top prize remains wide open. What is certain, however, is that the title will be contested between Scotland and China, as John Higgins, Stephen Maguire, Zhang Anda and Si Jiahui make up the final four.
For Higgins, this week represents not only another shot at silverware but also a chance to etch his name even deeper into the game’s record books. Now aged 50, the four-time world champion is closing in on a landmark that seemed improbable even a few years ago — a 33rd ranking title, which would move him within touching distance of Ronnie O’Sullivan and Stephen Hendry on the all-time list. Victory in Nanjing would also make him the oldest ranking event winner since Ray Reardon in 1982, underlining the longevity and quality that have defined his glittering career.
The “Wizard of Wishaw” has rolled back the years in China, blending tactical mastery with clinical scoring. His quarter-final triumph over Kyren Wilson was a showcase of vintage Higgins — precise safety, relentless pressure, and crucial clearances at key moments. His consistency in the season’s first half has already ensured his place in the Players Series, but a title here would reassert his status among the sport’s elite after several near misses in recent seasons.
Awaiting him in the semi-finals is close friend and long-time practice partner Stephen Maguire. The pair famously joined forces to deliver Scotland’s World Cup victory in Wuxi back in 2019, and now they will face off in an all-Scottish showdown with major implications for both men. Maguire, 44, has endured an inconsistent few years but appears rejuvenated, producing some of his best snooker in recent memory to reach the last four. His gritty win over Neil Robertson showed flashes of the attacking flair and fighting spirit that once made him one of the sport’s most feared competitors.
The meeting between Higgins and Maguire promises to be a compelling duel — a contest between two friends who know each other’s games inside out. Both have spoken warmly about their partnership and mutual respect, but sentiment will be set aside once the first ball is struck. For Maguire, a return to a major final would reignite hopes of breaking his 20-year ranking title drought; for Higgins, it is another step toward history.
On the opposite side of the draw, Zhang Anda and Si Jiahui have ensured a Chinese presence in Sunday’s final, continuing the country’s impressive rise in world snooker. Zhang’s calm, measured style and Si’s fearless attacking game offer a fascinating contrast, and either man could become the next homegrown star to lift a major ranking trophy.
Whatever the outcome, the 2025 International Championship is poised for a dramatic conclusion — a clash of generations, cultures and enduring friendships. Whether it is Higgins’ march toward immortality, Maguire’s quest for redemption, or China’s young guns chasing glory, Nanjing is about to witness another unforgettable chapter in the sport’s global story.
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