John Higgins compares Zhao Xintong to iconic football duo as he tips Players Championship winner to 'touch all the records' - 'Absolute genius'
By Desmond Kane
Published 23/02/2026 at 09:55 GMT
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Zhao Xintong will chase a third straight ranking title triumph when he travels to Llandudno for this week's Welsh Open, February 23 to March 1, live on TNT Sports and discovery+. The world champion followed up his World Grand Prix victory with a 10-7 win over John Higgins in the Players Championship final on Sunday. Zhao will open his Welsh Open bid against Fan Zhengyi on Tuesday afternoon.
'Virtuoso display of snooker' - Zhao hits fifth century to seal 'ridiculously easy' final win
Video credit: TNT Sports
John Higgins has compared the natural ability of world champion Zhao Xintong to British football greats George Best and Jimmy Johnstone after losing 10-7 to the world champion in the Players Championship final in Telford.
Johnstone won the old European Cup with Glasgow giants Celtic in 1967 via a 2-1 win over Inter Milan in Lisbon, while Northern Irish icon Best emulated the feat with Manchester United a year later courtesy of a 4-1 extra-time victory over Benfica at Wembley.
Both were sparkling wingers in their pomp and continue to be celebrated decades later for their natural ability and appetite to entertain millions of fans worldwide.
Higgins can see similarities with Zhao, who raced away with his second-straight ranking title following his 10-6 win over Zhang Anda in the World Grand Prix final in Hong Kong earlier this month.
After eking out a 7-6 lead, Higgins was forced to sit and suffer as he only managed 14 points in the closing four frames with his opponent running in breaks of 104, 126 and 92 to carry off the £150,000 first prize.
"I couldn't pot a long ball all day, and Zhao doesn't really miss any long balls," said Higgins, who has tasted defeats in his past three major finals.
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Who is on Gretzky's sporting Mount Rushmore?
Video credit: TNT Sports
"The last three frames there were absolutely poetry in motion.
"I'm lucky to have my kids here, and I can remember my dad saying he was lucky to see footballers like George Best and Jimmy Johnstone.
"My kids are lucky to see someone like Xintong. He is an absolute genius.
"It is just how much he wants it, really.
"And if he wants it, my god, he could be touching all the records that are out there in snooker just now."
The Higgins tribute to Zhao comes only days after Canada's NHL legend Wayne Gretzky placed Best on his all-time Mount Rushmore of sports giants at the Winter Olympics.
"I will tell you how much I know [about sport], I used to know Georgie Best," Gretzky told TNT Sports.
"I grew up idolising people like Larry Bird and Magic Johnson, John McEnroe, Bjorn Borg, I thought they were great athletes.
"And what made them great is the bigger the moment, the better they were, and you could count on them."
Zhao will travel to Llandudno for his tournament opener at the Welsh Open against compatriot Fan Zhengyi at 13:00 UK time on Tuesday, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
Meanwhile, record five-time tournament winner Higgins will face Liu Wenwei at 19:00 on Tuesday as he bids to regroup from his latest final loss.
The four-time world champion lost 10-6 to Wu Yize in the International Championship final in November and to Kyren Wilson by the same scoreline in the Masters final last month.
And he was again left deflated by how he appeared to run out of steam in the title match for the third straight occasion.
"I'm disappointed. I had a chance tonight," Higgins said. "Should have went 7-5, could have went 8-6 as well, but I just never took my chances.
"There's some good form in there, but also a bit ropey too. I think that's going to happen as you get older. You have to just put up with that, I think.
"I'll take the positives in reaching the final, but disappointed."
Zhao moves above Higgins, who became at 50 the oldest finalist in a ranking event since 53-year-old Rex Williams reached the Grand Prix final in 1986, in the world rankings into fifth spot.
Meanwhile, Mark Selby begins the defence of his Welsh Open title against Jiang Jung on Monday after Mark Williams meets Michael Holt at 13:00.
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Watch the moment Selby clinches Welsh Open glory in final against Maguire
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Watch and stream the 2025/26 snooker season, including the Welsh Open, live on TNT Sports and discovery+
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