Thirty-four years after turning professional, John Higgins is still a fixture at the business end of snooker's biggest events. At the 2026 World Championship he came from 4–9 down to beat Ronnie O'Sullivan 13–12, then from 6–9 down to beat Neil Robertson, before losing a dramatic semi-final 17–15 to Shaun Murphy. He starts the 2026/27 season ranked sixth in the world.
Four world titles, 33 ranking events and more than 1,000 centuries: this is the story of the Wizard of Wishaw. Explore our snooker collection for more legends of the baize.
John Higgins Fact File
| Name | John Higgins MBE |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | 18 May 1975 (age 51) |
| Place of birth | Wishaw, Lanarkshire, Scotland |
| Sport | Professional snooker (right-handed) |
| Nationality | Scottish |
| Turned pro | 1992 |
| Current status | Active; world No. 6 |
| Ranking titles | 33 |
| Nickname | The Wizard of Wishaw |
Career History
| Years | Era | Key titles |
|---|---|---|
| 1992–1997 | Rising star | Four ranking titles by 1995, including three in 1994/95 |
| 1998–2001 | First peak | World (1998), UK (1998, 2000), Masters (1999) |
| 2006–2011 | Second peak | Masters (2006), World (2007, 2009, 2011), UK (2010) |
| 2016–2019 | Crucible regular | China Championship, Champion of Champions (2016); three world finals |
| 2024–2026 | Veteran master | World Open, Tour Championship (2025) |
Selected titles by era. Higgins has won 33 ranking titles, third on the all-time list behind Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O'Sullivan, plus nine Triple Crown events.
Early Years: The Teenage Sensation
Higgins turned professional in 1992 and made his name fast. In the 1994/95 season he became the first teenager to win three ranking events in a single campaign, beating Dave Harold, Steve Davis and Ronnie O'Sullivan in finals along the way. A rivalry with O'Sullivan and Mark Williams, all born in 1975, would shape the sport for three decades.
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The Breakthrough: World Champion in 1998
At the 1998 World Championship Higgins beat Ken Doherty 18–12 in the final to lift his first world title and rise to world No. 1. He won the UK Championship that same year and the Masters in 1999, completing snooker's Triple Crown set by early 1999. In 2001 he became the first player to win the opening three events of a season. Rack them up in our John Higgins Snooker Icon Frame Men's T-Shirt.
The Peak: Three More at the Crucible
Higgins won the Masters again in 2006, then reclaimed the world title in 2007, making the 1,000th century in Crucible history along the way. He won again in 2009, and in December 2010 produced one of the great UK Championship finals, recovering from 2–7 and 5–9 down to beat Mark Williams 10–9 on a deciding frame. Months later he beat a young Judd Trump 18–15 to claim his fourth world crown in 2011.
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Later Career: Still Winning
Higgins reached three straight world finals between 2017 and 2019, losing to Mark Selby, Mark Williams and Judd Trump, and helped Scotland win the World Cup in 2019. At the 2024 English Open he became only the third player to make 1,000 professional centuries, and in 2025 he won the World Open and the Tour Championship. He also reached the 2026 Masters final and the 2026 Crucible semi-finals.
Honours
Triple Crown (9)
- World Champion: 1998, 2007, 2009, 2011
- UK Champion: 1998, 2000, 2010
- Masters: 1999, 2006
Records and milestones
- 33 ranking titles (third all-time)
- More than 1,000 professional century breaks
- 13 maximum 147 breaks
- World No. 1 in four separate spells
Other honours
- MBE (2008)
- World Cup winner with Scotland (2019)
Away From the Table
Higgins married Denise in 2000 and the couple have three children. He is a patron of The Dalziel Centre, a day hospice in Motherwell, and the pair donated their £30,000 winnings from TV's Mr and Mrs to it.
FAQs
How old is John Higgins?
John Higgins was born on 18 May 1975, so he is 51 years old.
Where was John Higgins born?
He was born in Wishaw, Lanarkshire, Scotland, which gives him his nickname, the Wizard of Wishaw.
How many world titles has John Higgins won?
Four: in 1998, 2007, 2009 and 2011. He has also been runner-up four times.
How many ranking titles has John Higgins won?
33, the third most in history behind Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O'Sullivan.
How many 147s has John Higgins made?
He has made 13 official maximum breaks.
Is John Higgins still playing?
Yes. He reached the semi-finals of the 2026 World Championship and is ranked sixth in the world going into the 2026/27 season.
Shop the John Higgins Collection
Made to order in the UK, these designs celebrate one of snooker's all-time greats.
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Part of our Player Profiles series. Read next: Ronnie O'Sullivan Career Story and Stephen Hendry Career Story.
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