Heckler Ejected in Crucible Chaos as John Higgins Battles Match-Fixing Taunt During Epic Semi-Final Win
During his gripping run to the World Championship title, John Higgins faced Mark Williams in a tense semi-final clash at the Crucible Theatre. The match, filled with high-quality snooker and emotional intensity, eventually saw Higgins prevail 17-14. However, their closely fought battle was overshadowed by a dramatic off-table incident late in the contest.
With Higgins narrowly leading 14-13 and in the middle of a promising break, the atmosphere in the arena suddenly shifted. After potting a black to continue his run, a voice rang out from the audience. A spectator loudly jeered, “How’d you swallow 300,000 John?” — a pointed reference to the match-fixing allegations that had clouded Higgins’ reputation the previous year.
The accusation stemmed from a controversial sting operation in which Higgins and his manager, Pat Mooney, were allegedly filmed appearing to agree to lose specific frames in return for €300,000. Although Higgins later received a suspension and was cleared of deliberately intending to fix matches, the incident left a lasting mark on his career.
The heckle clearly crossed a line, and the referee acted swiftly. Without hesitation, he ordered security to remove the spectator from the venue, restoring order and allowing the match to proceed.
Despite the interruption, Higgins maintained his composure and eventually sealed the win, booking his place in the final. The semi-final will be remembered not just for the quality of play, but also for the controversy that briefly threatened to derail one of the sport’s most storied events.
