**John Higgins: A Champion’s Fortune and the Scandal That Shook Snooker**
John Higgins, the veteran Scottish snooker professional, has once again found himself in the spotlight as he advances to the quarter-finals of the 2025 World Snooker Championship. The 49-year-old is set to face Mark Williams, who is himself no stranger to Crucible glory, in a highly anticipated last-eight clash. Higgins’ progress this year is another chapter in the storied career of a player renowned for both brilliance at the table and resilience off it.
Since making his professional debut in 1992, Higgins has built a legacy as one of the sport’s all-time greats. His impressive haul of 33 ranking titles is surpassed only by legends Ronnie O’Sullivan and Stephen Hendry on the all-time list. In addition to his four World Championship wins, Higgins has claimed three UK Championships and two Masters titles, lifting the prestigious Triple Crown on no fewer than nine occasions. His sustained excellence at the top tier is further underscored by spending a staggering 29 years among the world’s top 16 ranked players.
While the likes of O’Sullivan enjoy star status beyond the baize, Higgins has long preferred to keep his personal life away from the glare of the media. Despite this relative low profile, his career has not been without turbulence, including a highly publicised scandal that reverberated beyond the snooker circuit.
Financially, Higgins’ achievements have translated into substantial rewards. According to snooker statistics service CueTracker, he has amassed over £10.5 million in prize money over the course of his career. Remarkably, his earnings for the current season alone have approached £600,000, making it his second most lucrative year to date. Widely reported figures place his total net worth at an estimated £8.8 million, ranking him as the eighth richest snooker player in history—a testament to his prolonged competitiveness.
However, not all of Higgins’ headlines have centred on sporting triumph. In 2010, the snooker world was rocked when Higgins, then the top-ranked player globally, was implicated in a News of the World sting operation. Undercover footage appeared to suggest Higgins and former manager Pat Mooney were willing to discuss losing frames for financial reward. In the aftermath, Higgins was cleared of deliberately fixing matches, with the blame attributed mainly to Mooney, who was handed a lifetime ban. Nevertheless, Higgins was not entirely exonerated—he received a six-month suspension and a £75,000 fine for failing to report an illegal approach and for actions deemed damaging to the sport’s integrity.
Following his suspension, Higgins spoke of his relief at being cleared of dishonesty but acknowledged the responsibility of upholding snooker’s reputation. He credited the support of his wife Denise, family, and close friends for helping him through what he termed the most traumatic period of his life. Remarkably, Higgins returned from the ban to win the 2011 World Championship, further burnishing his reputation for determination in the face of adversity.
Away from snooker, Higgins’ family life has played a significant role in his story. Married to his childhood sweetheart Denise since 2010, the couple have three children together. Denise has often been at Higgins’ side for his greatest sporting moments despite generally avoiding publicity herself. A recent anecdote underlined this private partnership, as a mix-up with travel arrangements meant Denise narrowly missed seeing Higgins claim his 32nd ranking title at the World Open in Hong Kong.
Higgins has also endured personal tragedy and challenges away from the table. In early 2011, his father John Sr—a pivotal figure in his career—passed away after a protracted battle with cancer. The loss came as Higgins was preparing to compete, highlighting the emotional resilience he has demonstrated repeatedly. Later, only weeks before his latest World Championship campaign, Higgins withdrew from pre-tournament events when his father-in-law suffered a heart attack. After prioritising family, he returned to Sheffield, securing a hard-fought opening round win, visibly moved during post-match interviews as he reflected on his ongoing love for the game and the importance of family support.
Throughout the ups and downs, John Higgins remains a figure admired for both his snooker prowess and his capacity to overcome challenges. With another possible world title in sight, his career continues to be a compelling narrative of triumph, adversity, and the enduring pursuit of sporting excellence.