World ranking: 3
Last five seasons: 2-1-1-2-2
Date of birth: 18-05-75
Lives: Wishaw, Lanarkshire
Turned professional: 1992
Ranking tournament victories: 14 - Grand Prix 1994, 1999; International 1995, 1996; British Open 1995, 1998; German Open 1995, 1997; European Open 1997; Embassy World Championship 1998; Liverpool Victoria UK Championship 1998, 2001; Regal China International 1999; Regal Welsh 2000
Last season's prize money: £355,560
Career prize money (up to start of 2001-2002 season): £2,709,752
Highest tournament break: 147 - Nations Cup 2000, Benson and Hedges Irish Masters 2000

John Higgins had high hopes of joining the select band of players who have won the Embassy World Championship on more than one occasion until he came up against an inspired Ronnie O'Sullivan in the 2001 final.

World champion in 1998, victories over Graeme Dott (10-4), Chris Small (13-8), Ken Doherty (13-6) and Matthew Stevens (17-15) took the Scot through his second final.

"To get my name on the trophy for a second time would mean the world to me, probably more than winning the first," he said. "You have to win the World Championship two or three times before you can be classed as a true great of the game."

Sadly, it was not be. Higgins was always playing catch-up after losing the first session 6-2 and try as he might, could never quite get close enough to land a telling blow, eventually going down 18-14.

"Hats off to Ronnie, he's a worthy world champion. He makes the game look ridiculously easy," said the sporting loser. "I've already had my year but, hopefully, there will be many more to come."

Higgins described his 17-15 defeat by Mark Williams in the world semi-finals in 2000 as "probably the lowest point of my career".

The highest undoubtedly came at The Crucible two years earlier when the 'Wizard of Wishaw' compiled a record 14 century breaks on his way to becoming the third Scottish winner of snooker's blue riband event.

To become No 1 in the world rankings, Higgins had to win the title and hope that one-time practice partner Stephen Hendry went out in the first round.

That's exactly what happened as Hendry lost 10-4 to Jimmy White and Higgins went on to defeat Jason Ferguson, Anthony Hamilton, John Parrott and O'Sullivan before overcoming defending champion Doherty 18-12 in the final.

After a slow start to the 2000-2001 season, Higgins hit peak form at the Liverpool Victoria UK Championship at the Bournemouth International Centre in November/December. A 10-4 victory over Mark Williams in the final gave him the title for the second time in his career.

The £78,000 first prize came at just the right time - a few weeks before his wedding to childhood sweetheart Denise Whitton.

Part of Scotland's victorious team in the both the 1996 World Cup and 2001 Coalite Nations Cup, Higgins has won 14 ranking tournaments to date - the first coming in 1994 when he beat Dave Harold 9-6 in the final of the Grand Prix. He stands third on the all-time winners' list behind Hendry and Steve Davis.