John Higgins: Snooker Star to Combine Playing & Punditry at Players Championship

Telford, UK – John Higgins, the four-time world snooker champion, is preparing for a unique challenge this week at the Players Championship: balancing competing in the tournament with fulfilling a trial role as a pundit for Channel 5.

The 50-year-old Scotsman faces a tough opening-round match against Australia’s top-ranked player, Neil Robertson, on Tuesday afternoon. Higgins only secured his place in the 16-player event after Ronnie O’Sullivan withdrew last month, a stroke of luck he acknowledges.

Adding to the complexity of his week, Channel 5, broadcasting snooker for the first time this year, has invited Higgins to contribute to their coverage as a commentator. This would see him working alongside fellow snooker legends Stephen Hendry and Alan McManus, forming a new-look analysis team.

“Channel 5 have asked me if I’d be willing to do this as a trial period over these two tournaments,” Higgins explained. “It’s something else to get my head around and my teeth into. It’s difficult sometimes coming to these events and you are on your own. You feel stuck between four walls. That’s why it has been good having (wife) Denise with me in a few tournaments this season and it has allowed me to relax.”

The opportunity comes at a time when Higgins has openly discussed struggling with motivation in the sport. He admitted in January 2025, following a victory against Mark Davis at the German Masters, that snooker was beginning to “take your soul bit by bit.” He elaborated, stating, “This has been a good sport for me, but as you fall down the rankings it can begin to take that bit of goodness. It is a brutal sport sometimes.”

Higgins hopes the punditry role will offer a welcome change of pace and a sense of camaraderie. “I’ve decided to take the plunge and be part of a team with the broadcasting. I’m quite looking forward to that,” he said. He acknowledges the potential challenges, noting the long hours required of commentators and the possibility that his presence might not be a perfect fit. “I might go down and try it and find it hard. I see the commentators down there and can see how long the days are. I might dip my toe in and think it isn’t for me. And vice versa they might think there are too many Scots in the studio with Alan McManus and Stephen Hendry. We’ll see how it goes.”

While Higgins has some prior experience with commentary, he anticipates the studio environment will be more comfortable. “I’ve done commentary once or twice before. I know that will be a new challenge and difficult. The studio will be a little bit different. I’ll be more in my comfort zone there because I’ve been interviewed so many times after matches before. You’re just giving your opinion and your thoughts. It’s exciting and I’m looking forward to it.”

The match against Robertson will be the 35th time the two players have faced each other. Higgins will be keen to avenge a particularly painful defeat against the Australian in the opening round of the 2025 Masters, where he squandered a commanding 5-1 lead.

Higgins’ inclusion in the Players Championship was initially contingent on O’Sullivan’s participation. “When I was sitting over in Hong Kong I heard the news Ronnie wasn’t entering,” Higgins revealed. “I looked at the rankings and I knew I was safe, but the results started going the wrong way. In a way I’m lucky to be there, because Ronnie hasn’t entered. It’d have been me losing out.” He noted the irony of the situation, recalling how Robertson benefited from O’Sullivan’s withdrawal from the Masters last year.

Despite the added pressure of potential punditry duties, Higgins remains focused on the task at hand. “Hopefully I can be the one free rolling this time and take my chance,” he said, looking ahead to his match against Robertson. The tournament, featuring the top 16 players on the one-year ranking list, promises a high level of competition, and Higgins will need to be at his best to progress.