Off-hand Williams put me off - Higgins

Former champion John Higgins admits the fact he has just one World Championship title to his name remains a source of irritation.

The Scot, who begins his campaign against Nottingham’s Michael Holt today, triumphed in Sheffield in 1998 by beating Ken Doherty 18-12 in the final.

And nine years on the world number four insists nothing would give him greater satisfaction than repeating the feat as he attempts to salvage something from a wretched season.

“It would mean a great deal to win it again. I sometimes think I’ve put myself under more pressure than I should have done since winning it,” Higgins said.

“If you look at the career I’ve had, I should have won it more than once.”

The number five seed still recalls his defeat by Mark Williams seven years ago as his biggest missed chance.

“My biggest regret in snooker was losing 17-15 to Mark in the 2000 semi-finals,” Higgins added.

“I led 14-10 going into the final session and when we got out there to restart, Mark didn’t shake my hand.

“It completely threw me for the whole session. Instead of concentrating on the match and trying to get to 17 frames I was wondering why he did that, even though it was probably just an oversight on his part.

“Who knows where my career would have gone from that point if I’d beaten him? I could have won three or four world titles by now but it’s all in the past now and you have to move on.”

After reaching four finals and winning the Masters and Grand Prix last season, the 31-year-old arrived in Sheffield among the favourites but suffered a shock first-round exit at the hands of Mark Selby.

This season, however, the Wizard of Wishaw has looked a shadow of his former self, winning only two matches since the turn of the year.

But with the spotlight focused elsewhere and a favourable draw, Higgins is confident he stands a chance of writing the wrongs of years gone by.

He added: “You look forward to the Crucible so much. It’s the pinnacle of the snooker calendar.

“I was out before it had started last year and that was disappointing.

“Michael Holt’s a good player but if I play well I’m confident of winning. I could have had a tougher draw and I could have had an easier one, but it’s all about how I play.

“I know less people are talking about me winning it this year but I feel I’m coming back to form in myself.

“I’d love to predict what’s going to happen and say I’m going to do this or that but it’s all on the day.”

Joe Swail caused another upset as he sent two-time winner Mark Williams crashing out 10-9 last night.

Crucible rookie Mark Allen earned a shock victory over former champion Ken Doherty. The former world amateur champion booked a second-round meeting with two-time finalist Matthew Stevens after claiming a 10-7 victory over the 1997 winner.

World number nine Stephen Maguire wasted little time booking his place in the second round having stormed to a resounding 10-3 victory which forced opponent Joe Perry to admit he had been “steamrollered”.

Seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry was forced to call on his vast Crucible experience after a torrid start against outsider David Gilbert.

Hendry fell 5-1 behind to the part-time potato planter from Tamworth before breaks of 68 and 76 helped win the next free frames to leave the match finely balanced at 5-4 ahead of tomorrow’s concluding session.