Andrew Higginson

Infobox Snooker player
Name = Andrew Higginson


Caption =
Born = Birth date and age|1977|12|13
Birthplace = Cheshire
Nationality = flag|England|name=English
Nickname =
Professional = 1995–
High ranking = #38
Current rank = #38
Prize money = GB£108,620 [http://www.worldsnooker.com/players_head_to_head-8238.htm World Snooker profile] ]
High break = 147 (Welsh Open 2007)
Best finish = Runner-Up, Welsh Open 2007
Ranking wins =
Other wins =
World champ =

Andrew Higginson (born 13 December 1977, Cheshire, England) is an English professional snooker player, currently living in Widnes.

After some success in amateur tournaments, he turned professional for the 2000/2001 season after finishing third on the Challenge Tour. He remained there for five seasons before dropping off, after encountering limited success. He won a place back on the tour for 2006/2007 after finishing second on the Pontins' International Open Series (the Challenge Tour under a new name). He reached the last 16 at the 2007 Malta Cup where he beat Steve Davis 5-4 before losing 2-5 to Ken Doherty.

At the 2007 Welsh Open, Higginson hit an extraordinary run of form, making his first professional 147 break on his way to beating Ali Carter 5-1. He also beat John Higgins 5-3, Michael Judge 5-1, and Stephen Maguire 6-3 to reach the final. As he had spent the 2005/2006 season on the secondary Challenge Tour, he was the first unranked player to reach a ranking final since Terry Griffiths won the World title in 1979. At the end of the first session of the final, he trailed 2-6 to Neil Robertson. In the second session, Higginson managed to take the lead and change the score to 8-6, but Robertson recovered to level the scores at 8-8 and force a deciding frame, which Robertson won [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/6373893.stm] . As runner-up, Higginson earned GB£20,000 for his 147 break, £2000 for the highest break and £17,500 for being the 2nd-place finalist.

Despite his good season, Andrew failed to qualify for the 2007 World Championship, losing 9-10 to Ricky Walden in the 3rd qualifying round. His performance in the Welsh Open and Malta Cup have brought him to 44th in the 2007/2008 rankings, and 24th on the one-year list.

The following season proved tougher, with Higginson only qualifying for one event - the Welsh Open again. [http://www.sportinglife.com/snooker/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=snooker/08/02/10/SNOOKER_Welsh_Nightlead.html]

Tournament wins

Amateur events

*North West Championship (1998, 1999)
*Merseyside Junior Championship (1997)
*North West Pairs Championship (1996)
*North West Junior Championship (1995)

References