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John Higgins has opened up about the heartbreak of missing out on the semi-finals of the World Snooker Championship last year after beating Neil Robertson to reach this year's final four at the Crucible. It ends a run of three consecutive quarter-final defeats for Higgins, who will compete in the semi-finals for the first time since 2022.

The four-time world champion had lost to the eventual runner-up Mark Williams in the quarter-finals 12 months ago, with Higgins paired up against Shaun Murphy for the upcoming semis. Understandably, the Scot was full of emotion following his 13-10 victory over Robertson, and commented on how difficult it is to watch from home.

Speaking to the BBC, he remarked: "Happy birthday mum, it's her birthday. It's a great achievement getting back to the one-table, having been so close last year with Mark [Williams] and just missing out.

"It was heartbreaking when you watch on the TV because you just think you would love to get back there one more time, it's an amazing feeling to step out there at the Crucible. Me and Shaun [Murphy], it will be amazing."

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It's been a rollercoaster ride for Higgins this tournament, with the world No.5 having trailed in every match so far. The most notable deficit came against Ronnie O'Sullivan, when the Wizard of Wishaw trailed 9-4 in a first-to-13 contest.

Higgins believes that resilience could help him go all the way this year. He added: "It's always going home with a deficit! It's amazing, [wife] Denise is with me and I'm saying I'm always behind, I'm always behind!

"That gives you the belief that you can come out and do it. If you were in front and fall behind maybe some matches you're thinking I can't come back. But I'm always behind I always feel like I've got a chance."

Meanwhile, Murphy, who has also rolled back the Crucible years to defeat reigning champion Zhao Xintong, said: "I knew going into it that nothing but my best would do and thankfully I found it in the third session

"The 2005 champion has increasingly found his form since squeaking out a 10-9 first-round win over Fan Zhengyi. It's one of the best wins of my career and I'm delighted to win it and get to the semi-finals. I've been churning out performances like this week in week out and it's been a real test of determination and perseverance, but I've managed to stay the course."