John Higgins has a burning question for two of his snooker rivals after winning the World Open.

The Wizard of Wishaw ended his four-year wait for a 32nd career ranking title in China on Saturday.

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Higgins has a burning question to ask Ronnie O’Sullivan[/caption]

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The Wizard of Wishaw is fresh from winning the World Open on Saturday[/caption]

Higgins scooped £175,000 in prize money to climb back into the top eight in the world by beating Joe O’Connor in the final.

It was the 49-year-old’s first ranking triumph since the 2021 Players Championship.

He had lost five consecutive ranking finals before overcoming O’Connor 10-6 in Yushan.

After his victory, Higgins admitted he was keen to ask the rest of the Class of ’92 about playing so close to 50.

Ronnie O’Sullivan and Mark Williams remain at the top of the sport alongside Higgins as they approach their sixth decade.

The four-time world champion explained: “It’s good. I am still in there fighting with the likes of Mark and Ronnie. Two great players.

“I will be brutally honest, they are the only two guys I would probably want to sit down with and ask the question: ‘How does it feel to still be up there at the top of the game at 49-50?’ Because nobody else has done it in the game.

“But you cannot really ask them that as they are still rivals with you. It’s a difficult one. It’s tough, but also enjoyable.”

With his win on Saturday, Higgins is now up to eighth in the world rankings, whilst O’Sullivan and Williams sit fourth and fifth, respectively.

He continued: “This is massive. At 49, people would be thinking I would never get there again.

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Higgins admitted he can’t ask his rivals about playing so close to 50[/caption]

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Both Higgins and O’Sullivan remain part of the world’s top eight players[/caption]

“The spin-offs of winning a big Chinese money event can establish you for the next couple of years. It takes the pressure off. This has given me a lot of confidence.

“I know I am always classed with those two guys [O’Sullivan and Williams], two unbelievable champions, who have been in the top eight and winning big events. I was admiring them.

“To get a win for myself and put myself back in to be mentioned with those two guys is special.”

Higgins will be keen to continue his winning streak this week at the World Grand Prix in Hong Kong.

He faces world number 14 Ali Carter in the first round on Tuesday for a place in the last 16.

The former world number one added: “It has been a long time since I have won a big event. So, to win this and then roll to the next one, I am not used to it.

“I really don’t know how I will feel on Tuesday. It could help me or I could run into a brick wall.

“Hopefully it will reinforce a bit of confidence in myself, which if I am honest, it has been lacking for the last few years.

“I still felt I had played good stuff. The deciding-frame defeats it does knock the stuffing out of you a bit. I have been honest enough to say that. I am just delighted.”

However, Higgins will not be joined by O’Sullivan in the draw after the Rocket withdrew from the event for medical reasons.