LIAM HIGHFIELD will attempt to topple Zhao Xintong on Saturday – due to relentless classes on Ronnie O’Sullivan’s former table.
No first-time world snooker champion has managed to defend the crown the next yr on the Crucible.
Xintong, who claimed a maiden title final yr as an beginner, opens up his marketing campaign to try to defy the Curse in opposition to Stoke potter Highfield in two classes this weekend.
Yet the English outsider has a uncommon declare to fame – he practises daily on the Rocket’s former gear.
Qualifier Highfield, 35, defined: “When Ronnie went to Dubai, a mutual good friend spoke to me, and I obtained his table. It’s a reasonably cool story.
“I gave him some cash for it. I suppose he had had it since 2018, judging on the age of the table.
“It’s in my membership. I apply on it day-after-day. I ought to inform him the pockets are too massive!
“It was in the outer constructing of his home. He’s a legend. A very good man as properly. I like him.
“I don’t cease practising now. I work so arduous. I’m in all probability one of many hardest employees. I wasn’t all the time. I relied a bit on my expertise in the previous.
“You’re young, and I enjoyed my life but now I’m 35, so let’s try and have a good end to my career.”
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Xintong – who might grow to be World No1 come the top of the World Snooker Championship – is the person in type having received the Tour Championship in Manchester.
Highfield is showing on the Crucible for the fourth time, the primary event since 2022, however is but to win a match there.
During that interval of absence he broke his hand in a street crash and was then relegated off the World Snooker Tour.
Highfield, who has been working with ex-pro Anthony Hamilton, stated: “I’ve had a mad profession. I’ve come again from so many setbacks after which I broke my wrist in 2023.
“I couldn’t even make a bridge. I fell off the tour off the again of that. I’ve obtained my head down since.
“I fell off a scooter. I went again to apply sooner or later. It was sunny. And I don’t drive. I used a scooter however I got here straight off it on about day three.
“Someone got here out on the trail and I attempted to swerve after which, yeah, I went over.
“My wrist was in a solid and that was a horrible time. Eight weeks in a solid and it takes months after to ever really feel proper. It was only a horrible time in my life. I used to be a bit depressed. But yeah, I discovered my manner out of it.
“When I used to be in the solid, it was the top of the season. I simply began consuming and stuff.
Ronnie O’Sullivan draw
“I just didn’t live like a sports person should do. I’m a young lad. I didn’t do anything wrong but it didn’t help my snooker. I don’t drink at all now.”
In Thursday morning’s draw, O’Sullivan – who’s chasing a report eighth world title – was paired with debutant He Guoqiang in spherical one on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The winner of that tie will face both John Higgins or Ali Carter in spherical two.
Guoqiang, 25, is considered one of 4 rookies in the 32-man draw and amongst a report contingent of 11 Chinese cuesists.
World No1 Judd Trump faces North East rating winner Gary Wilson, the sixteenth and remaining qualifier, whereas No3 seed Kyren Wilson performs 19-year-old Yorkshire beginner Stan Moody.
Another notable match sees Barry Hawkins play two-time world championship runner-up Matthew Stevens from Wales.
