John Higgins (snooker player) title, which prompted Steve Davis to comment "I think John Higgins is the best snooker player I've ever seen in my life". Despite the victory, Higgins lost the world number one ranking to Mark Williams. Higgins had a poor 2011/2012 season, reaching only two quarter finals of major ranking events. His season-best performance was reaching the semi-finals of the Masters, where he lost 4–6 to Shaun Murphy. Before the start of his World Championship title defence, he admitted that his performance levels had not been good enough and that he had not been trying hard enough, managing just one or
John Higgins (snooker player) once again lose, this time to Mark Williams. Higgins married Denise in 2000; they have three children together: sons Pierce and Oliver, and daughter Claudia. Higgins is a dedicated supporter of Celtic and frequently attends the team's matches. He enjoys playing poker. Higgins also follows English club Everton. Higgins was escorted off a plane for being drunk in 2006 after losing the Malta Cup final to Ken Doherty, but became teetotal in preparation for the 2007 World Snooker Championship, which he went on to win. Higgins was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2008