John Higgins hit his 1000th century break during a 4-3 last-16 defeat to Mark Allen at the English Open (Image: VCG via Getty Images)

John Higgins hits 1000th century as he exits English Open

The Wizard of Wishaw hit the milestone in a last-16 defeat to Mark Allen

by · Daily Record

John Higgins became only the second snooker player to hit 1000 career centuries as he crashed out of the English Open last-16.

‘Wizard of Wishaw’ Higgins achieved the milestone during a 4-3 defeat to Mark Allen in Brentwood, joining Ronnie O’Sullivan in achieving the feat.

Higgins on Thursday scored breaks of 108 and 109 to draw level at 3-3, before losing a long and tense final frame.

O’Sullivan achieved the feat in 2019, with Higgins back on 745 three-figure breaks at the time.

Ronnie O'Sullivan hit the milestone in 2019 (Image: VCG via Getty Images)

World number one Judd Trump is likely to be next, who is currently on 998.

Four-times World Champion Higgins, 49, said: “It’s a good achievement. I’ve played this game for so long, to get to that milestone. You have to be proud of that.

“I’m really proud. To be honest, I wanted to get there before Judd. I thought that I have a 14-year head start on him.

“It is good to be second to Ronnie O’Sullivan, the best ever.

Northern Ireland's Mark Allen won the final frame 4-3 to progress to the quarter-finals (Image: VCG via Getty Images)

“Judd will obviously go on, and probably eclipse Ronnie’s century record.”

Higgins’ first century came in the 1992-93 season, with his most prolific campaign being in 2021-22, when he hit 56.

The Lanarkshire star has also had 13 maximum 147 breaks in his career, again second only to O’Sullivan.

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