With A Point To Prove, Should John Higgins Be Backing Himself To Win The UK Championship?

Snooker's UK Championship starts at the International Centre, Telford on December 4th ... and for a change all eyes won't be on the favourite, Ronnie O'Sullivan, as the event sees the return to competitive action on British soil for John Higgins.

Higgins: Already back to winning ways

The 35-year-old Scot has only recently returned to the tour after being found guilty of bringing the game into direspute after a News Of The World article linked him with alleged betting and match fixing activities.

Higgins subsequently received a £75,000 fine and was banned for six months, returning to tournament play in Germany's Ruhr Championship (where he won the title in his first event back) and the Czech Republic (losing out in the final to Michael Holt).

Looking To Reclaim No.1 Crown

A two-time former UK Championship winner (1998, 2000) the 'Wizard of Wishaw' is looking to regain the world No.1 spot he lost to the winner of this year's World Snooker Championship, Neil Robertson.

Current No.1: World Champion Neil Robertson

The Aussie left-hander (currently trading at a reasonable looking 8/1) has never won the UK crown but he will prove a tough opponent for Higgins along with the 4/1 favourite Ronnie O'Sullivan (a four time UK winner, most recently 2007). These two men head the market along with Higgins (9/1).

Also entering calculations must be last year's champion Ding Junhui, the 2008 winner Shaun Murphy and dual champion Mark Williams (1999, 2002). Best of the rest appear to be Mark Selby, Ali Carter and Stephen Maguire.

Highly Motivated

It would be a monumental effort for Higgins to capture such a prestigious title in his first big tournament back in the limelight. That said, after his recent performances in Europe, added to a runners-up spot behind Ding Junhui in last year's competition, it would be foolish to discount the Scot's chances ... after all, who will be more motivated than Higgins?

The downside is a tricky draw. The top section includes O'Sullivan, Maguire, Selby, last year's winner Ding Junhui and Higgins himself. The bottom half, probably the easier of the two on paper, contains world number 1 Robertson along with Carter, Murphy and familiar names like Hendry, Williams and Ebdon.

>> Click here for latest UK Championship betting odds

As ever we'll have all the play covered from Telford and will be advising our outright bets prior to action starting. Make sure you don't miss out!

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