JOHN HIGGINS (Scotland)

World ranking: 3
Last five seasons: 2-1-1-2-2
Date of birth: 18-05-75
Lives: Wishaw, Lanarkshire
Turned professional: 1992
Ranking tournament victories: 14
Last season’s prize money: £355,560
Career prize money: £2,709,752
Highest tournament break: 147

Big Celtic supporter John Higgins refuses to settle for second best so he will not have enjoyed only winning a single ranking tournament last season.

Having lost his number one spot in the 1999-2000 season he has slipped further down the rankings last year – with Ronnie O’Sullivan displacing him at number two.

A former World Champion, Higgins compiled a record 14 century breaks on his way to becoming the third Scottish winner of snooker’s blue riband event.

To become No 1 in the world rankings, Higgins had to win the title and hope that one-time practice partner Stephen Hendry went out in the first round.

That’s exactly what happened as Hendry lost 10-4 to Jimmy White and Higgins went on to defeat Jason Ferguson, Anthony Hamilton, John Parrott and Ronnie O’Sullivan before overcoming defending champion Ken Doherty 18-12 in the final.

Higgins has won 14 ranking tournaments to date - the first coming in 1994 when he beat Dave Harold 9-6 in the final of the Grand Prix. He stands third on the all-time winners’ list behind Hendry and Steve Davis.

Higgins’ sole success last season came in the Liverpool Victoria UK Championship where he beat world number one Mark Williams 10-4 in the final.

The ‘Wizard of Wishaw’ will certainly be hoping the old magic returns this time around.