Some of the Celtic-supporting contingent on the World Snooker Tour are having a fantastic time in Sheffield, roaring through to the last eight of the World Championship and setting up some tantalising ties.
Four-time world champion John Higgins was in sensational form against second-round opponent Kyren Wilson, winning with a session to spare by a 13-2 margin on Sunday night. Now, fellow Celtic fan and practice partner Anthony McGill has joined him, knocking out the seeded Jack Lisowski with a 13-8 victory this evening.
McGill and Higgins are in different halves of the draw so the friends won’t meet each other at the Crucible unless they both make the showpiece final but there’s a lot of snooker ahead before contemplating that.
John Higgins potting towards Celtic Park moment
Emerging Chinese talent Si Juahai awaits McGill in the next round, while Higgins will be playing another four-time world champion in Mark Selby. Both matches promise to be entertaining affairs. Big names such as Ronnie O’Sullivan and Mark Allen are also showing they’re up for a title bid elsewhere in the draw.
Before the tournament began, Higgins spoke about his enjoyment of Celtic this season and his desire to get a moment with Ange Postecoglou should he win the big snooker trophy for a fifth time.
He said: “Ange Postecoglou has been amazing for the club. He has come in and everybody just loves him. That’s maybe why I am feeling so good just now. It would be a dream to be able to go and parade another world championship at Celtic Park and meet big Ange, that would be an amazing feeling.”
Higgins has previously shown off the trophy at Celtic Park, memorably on the day his beloved Bhoys stopped Rangers from winning ‘ten in a row’ in 1998. Now, 25 years down the line, he could do it again.
McGill is on the record as a Celtic fan too, so we have a double chance of Hoops-related success this year. The 32-year-old is no slouch on the table and has reached the quarter-finals three times previously, as well as a semi-final. His highest career ranking is 12 and he has won two tour titles in the past.
Both players have already guaranteed themselves a healthy £50,000 by reaching the quarter-final stage but with semi-finalists earning £100,000, the runner-up getting £200,000 and the overall winner banking an eye-watering £500,000, a massive week is ahead.
Good luck to the Bhoys!
In other news, Celtic one win away from Scottish Premiership title after loan Bhoy helps embarrass Rangers.
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