John Higgins: I feared being booed but no one has waved fivers at me

Evening Standard

There is, as even John Higgins admits, something "rather surreal" about the match he has just played. Here we are in a golf club just outside Billericay. The world No1 has just emerged from the Ryder Room, where he has been playing behind-closed-doors' snooker — no spectators, just his opponent and the referee.

The Championship League, backed by bookmakers, is only available on their websites. Meant to encourage punters to bet, it is part of the sporting empire of World Snooker's new supremo Barry Hearn.