John Higgins beat Ding Junhui 4-0 to win his opening match at the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship, but found playing conditions ‘pathetic’ at the big-money event.
Both players were clearly struggling to find any form or rhythm over the first two frames of the match which were a tough watch.
The Wizard of Wishaw did manage to get to grips with the table, though, and knocked in back-to-back breaks of 106 in the final two frames to secure a whitewash win.
While he was pleased to progress to the last eight, where he takes on defending champion Mark Allen, Higgins was far from impressed with the set-up.
The Scot suggested the table had been raised up and was too high, questioning how it was passed as acceptable to play on in a professional tournament.
‘It was a little bit difficult at the start,’ Higgins said on TNT Sports. ‘I think me and Ding both really struggled with the table. In the first couple of frames, there was no bite on the table.
‘With me and Ding being only about 5’5″ each, we really struggled with the table. It’s as if there’s beer mats underneath the table, and it’s raised up.
‘Somebody really needs to get told. I don’t know who has passed that, but it’s pathetic for a million-pound tournament. It really is bad. I don’t know who’s passed that.’
Seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry was on punditry duty and added: ‘I actually thought it was part of the design of the table. But now John pointed it out, it’s incredible how much it’s built up.
‘I can only assume the floor is so uneven they’ve had to rise the table up. But as a player you can really feel it.’
Explaining his point on ‘bite’ Higgins said: ‘No grip whatsoever. I’m trying to stun and it’s just rolling through. Can’t stop the cue ball. Well, I couldn’t stop the cue ball with my cue action. Maybe some of the other boys will find it ok.’
Despite the trouble with conditions, Higgins remains in the event and with a shot at both the £250,000 winner’s prize and the $1m bonus for the 167 golden ball break.
This event features the unique golden ball, only able to be potted after a 147, worth an extra 20 points and bringing with it a huge financial prize.
‘Ding gave me a few chances obviously, and then in the third frame I done a hundred break,’ said Higgins. ‘I felt I got through the ball a little bit better.
‘Then in the last frame, I played pretty well as well. So I’m delighted to win obviously.’
Also struggling on the opening day in Riyadh was Ronnie O’Sullivan who was well below his best in a 4-0 defeat to Shaun Murphy.
The Magician played well, especially in potting from distance, but the Rocket was poor and his challenge ended tamely.
Murphy said of his first win over O’Sullivan since 2017: ‘Very, very happy. It’s a long time since I tasted victory against Ronnie and they’re special any time they come up. I was pleased with how I played and delighted to get through
‘I just tried to go out and play snooker tonight as I have done all season and thankfully most of those long reds went in.’
Riyadh Season Snooker Championship results and draw
Wednesday November 19
Round One
2pm: Shaun Murphy 4-0 Ziyad Alqabbani
4pm: Ding Junhui 4-0 Ayman Alamri
Round Two
7pm: Ronnie O’Sullivan 0-4 Shaun Murphy
9pm: John Higgins 4-0 Ding Junhui
Thursday November 20
Quarter-finals
2pm: Kyren Wilson vs Neil Robertson
4pm: Mark Allen vs John Higgins
7pm: Judd Trump vs Mark Williams
9pm: Zhao Xintong vs Shaun Murphy
Friday November 21
2pm: Semi-finals
7pm: Final