How rare coffee from Alan McManus set John Higgins on his way to potential Ronnie O'Sullivan showdown at Halo World Championship

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A coffee and a chat with Alan McManus helped settle John Higgins as he saw off Ali Carter to reach the second round of the World Championship at the Crucible.

'I've seen it all' - Higgins details pivotal morning coffee with McManus

Video credit: TNT Sports

Everyone would like a pep talk from McManus, and Higgins is no exception.

The legendary Scot is taking part in his 34th Halo World Championship and reached the last 16 of this year's event after defeating Ali Carter 10-7 on Monday.

It was not all plain sailing against Carter, however, with Higgins surrendering a 4-0 advantage to end 5-4 behind after the first session on Sunday.

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Thankfully, compatriot McManus was on hand to offer caffeinated goods and a heart-to-heart ahead of the second session on Monday.

"I was delighted this morning when Alan McManus bought me a coffee, which is not like him," joked Higgins.

"And we were having a laugh and he says about the game. I say, 'Look, I've seen it all here.'

"I think maybe it's the first time I've been 4-0 in front and then had to sleep on a 5-4 deficit. But you've seen it all, so I just knew I was still feeling good about my game and I just had to take those positive thoughts into the game today."

'Look at this for a shot' - Higgins shocks commentators with unexpected cut

Video credit: TNT Sports

Higgins was at his effervescent best in Monday's second session, winning six out of eight frames to march into the last 16 and a potential match-up with Ronnie O'Sullivan.

The 'Rocket' faces He Guoqiang in his first-round tussle on Tuesday and Wednesday, live on TNT Sports and HBO Max.

During the TNT Sports coverage on Monday, McManus remembered the encounter with his fellow Scot, noting that he knew Higgins would bring his A game following their chat.

McManus said: "It was funny. I was up in the cafe and I was buying a coffee and a croissant, and John came in. [I said] 'Right, what do you want mate?' He didn't want me to buy one, but anyway, I bought him one, for once - I'm Scottish remember.

"But I know what John's like on game day. He just wants to be on his own, and I know that. But of course, we're both walking down the hill to the Crucible. As we're walking in, he briefly spoke about frame six, the red that just pulled up.

"But the last thing he said to me - he went to the practice room, I went to watch some snooker - and he said, 'It's nothing that we haven't seen before in this place, is it?'

"He said it in a nice way, in like a 'ready for more of it' kind of thing. He was brilliant, he was in a good mood, and I knew he was going to be on it today.

"Some of the stuff that he does. The reaction from Ali, coupled with the quality of John, when he's anywhere near his best, he's got you at sixes and sevens in there."

Higgins leads O'Sullivan 22-13 in their head-to-head ranking match record, but the Englishman got the better of his fellow Class of '92 graduate in their last Crucible encounter, winning 17-11 on his way to a record-equalling seventh world title.

But O'Sullivan must get past debutant He first, with action starting from 14:30 UK time on Tuesday.

You can watch every day of the 2026 World Snooker Championship live on TNT Sports. It is available both live and on-demand on HBO Max

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