Phil Haigh
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Phil Haigh
@philhaigh.bsky.social
Sports journalist for Metro. Expect snooker.
Reposted by Phil Haigh
Phil and I are back with Talking Snooker and we're joined by women's world seniors champion, Tessa Davidson.

Tessa really is terrific value here, talking to us at length about her prolific career and future hopes for the women's game.

podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...

#TalkingSnooker
February 26, 2025 at 7:23 PM
'Whether I keep my card or not, I think I’ve decided that enough is enough.'

Spoke to Joe Perry who is 90% sure he will retire at the end of the season after 33 years on tour.

He explained the frustrating reasons why.

metro.co.uk/2025/02/20/j...
Joe Perry feels 33-year career is ending after losing love for playing snooker
'I’ve decided that enough is enough.'
metro.co.uk
February 21, 2025 at 8:23 AM
'Everybody's still driving themselves mad. Everybody's angry a lot. I've had my moments but generally I'm looking at it slightly different than I used to.'

Always a pleasure to chat to the Hitman.

Here's Michael Holt on life on tour & how to try and deal with it.

metro.co.uk/2025/02/19/m...
Michael Holt on frustration, enjoyment and anger of life on World Snooker Tour
'Everybody's still driving themselves mad. Everybody's angry a lot.'
metro.co.uk
February 19, 2025 at 11:12 PM
A late night dose of Talking Snooker after Mark Selby won the Welsh Open on Sunday.

Is Maguire back? Is Brecel back? Will Higgins be back?

Plenty of back chat in Llandudno.

open.spotify.com/episode/6upp...
Talking Snooker Episode 197 - Mark Selby wins Welsh Open
Talking Snooker · Episode
open.spotify.com
February 17, 2025 at 9:54 PM
'If you had put me on the spot, to let me make a decision there and then, I would have probably never played again.'

Mark Selby felt on the brink of retirement just last year but out of that dark place and three titles later things are looking pretty good.

metro.co.uk/2025/02/17/m...
Mark Selby feared career was over but is now eyeing fifth world title
metro.co.uk
February 17, 2025 at 9:48 PM
'Now my aim is top 32 then top 16, instead of trying to stay on tour, which is a great feeling.'

Jackson Page feeling confident and looking up as the best season of his career continues with a great run at the Welsh Open.

metro.co.uk/2025/02/13/j...
Jackson Page names biggest change as career-best season continues at Welsh Open
'Now my aim is top 32 then top 16.'
metro.co.uk
February 13, 2025 at 7:27 PM
‘I think he’ll be putting the hours in behind the scenes and getting himself ready for the last part of the season, without a doubt.’

John Higgins expects Ronnie O'Sullivan to be back soon as he suggests reason for Welsh Open absence.

metro.co.uk/2025/02/12/j...
Higgins suggests reason behind O'Sullivan withdrawal and backs Rocket return
'I think he'll be back.'
metro.co.uk
February 12, 2025 at 6:54 PM
'I’ve never talked to him since and never will.

'When he said that and put that in the papers, for no reason really, that’s it for me. There’s no coming back from that.’

Asked Mark Williams about the long-running and seemingly eternal Darren Morgan beef.

metro.co.uk/2025/02/11/m...
metro.co.uk
February 11, 2025 at 8:48 PM
'I was really lacking in confidence, paranoid about my game. I was an edgy bag of nerves for months, it was horrible.'

Spoke to Jamie Jones on the mental strain of life on tour & hitting a low point this season.

Things are looking better now, thankfully.

metro.co.uk/2025/02/11/j...
Jamie Jones speaks out on the mental health battle of snooker career
'I was an edgy bag of nerves for months, it was horrible.'
metro.co.uk
February 11, 2025 at 8:47 PM
Pleasure to have Gary Wilson on Talking Snooker this week.

The Tyneside Terror was open and honest as ever about his game and career. Really enjoyable chat.

Also plenty on the German Masters, Welsh Open & other news.

open.spotify.com/episode/4tPp...
Talking Snooker Episode 195 - Gary Wilson special + Kyren Wilson wins German Masters + Nick in Berlin
Talking Snooker · Episode
open.spotify.com
February 6, 2025 at 9:30 AM
‘I have got such an air of confidence about me now. The more you win, the more of a force you become and install that fear factor.'

Kyren Wilson on his evolution into an elite player and a look at how his season as world champ is stacking up.

metro.co.uk/2025/02/03/k...
Kyren Wilson joins elite group by taking game to new level as world champion
The Warrior is joining snooker greats.
metro.co.uk
February 4, 2025 at 9:24 AM
Reposted by Phil Haigh
Cork teen becomes first-ever Irish player to win World Junior Snooker Championships

www.corkbeo.ie/news/local-n...
Cork teen becomes first Irish player to win World Junior Snooker Championships
'Lightning' Leone Crowley from Ballyvolane enjoyed a landslide victory in this afternoon's finals
www.corkbeo.ie
January 23, 2025 at 7:28 PM
'My season's been terrible. When you disrespect the game it can kick you.'

Spoke to Rob Milkins on a season to forget so far and why it's been so disappointing.

The Milkman looks back on that amazing Welsh Open win and why things have changed since.

metro.co.uk/2025/01/24/r...
Robert Milkins admits reason behind 'terrible' season and 'disgusting' form
'It's been disgusting, shocking really.'
metro.co.uk
January 24, 2025 at 5:14 PM
'You've got to figure it out, figure your life out. Life is tough. I've struggled.'

Spoke to Jack Lisowski on the mental strains of snooker and how he's now feeling good about his 'more rounded' game.

metro.co.uk/2025/01/23/j...
Jack Lisowski on mental health in snooker: 'I've struggled, it's tough'
'You've got to figure it out. Life is tough.'
metro.co.uk
January 24, 2025 at 5:13 PM
'I feel good. I feel like it could happen at any moment.'

Caught up with Jak Jones as his record-breaking Championship League run continues.

40 matches and counting he's played this month with a truckload of tons. He reckons a big win is close.

metro.co.uk/2025/01/22/j...
Jak Jones reacts to making snooker history on epic Championship League run
This will be tough to beat.
metro.co.uk
January 22, 2025 at 8:27 PM
‘It’s never nice losing but I’ve got better at accepting that I tried my best and just go on to the next event and try and win that.'

Caught up with Judd Trump on his Masters campaign, Kyren Wilson rivalry and the pitfalls of speeches after losing matches.

metro.co.uk/2025/01/21/j...
Judd Trump brushes off Kyren Wilson defeat and swiftly moves on from Masters
'It just happens. If it didn't happen then I'd just win every event.'
metro.co.uk
January 21, 2025 at 5:30 PM
This was a brilliant watch as Selby and O'Sullivan chatted about their mental challenges with Alan and Radzi.

Their struggles are different but it was really interesting to see them talk and find common ground.

Well worth a watch.

youtu.be/bvLtKSwqt6c?...
Mark Selby, Ronnie O'Sullivan & Alan McManus Discuss Mental Health and Snooker ❤️
YouTube video by Eurosport Snooker
youtu.be
January 14, 2025 at 1:31 PM
'My wife has barely seen me this season and my kids have struggled with me being away.'

Kyren Wilson loves being world champ but it comes with sacrifices.

Spoke to the Warrior on life since the Crucible.

metro.co.uk/2025/01/10/k...
Kyren Wilson opens up on strains of being world champion on life outside snooker
'They’re so young and they will get to a certain age when they do realise it’s all worthwhile.'
metro.co.uk
January 10, 2025 at 5:17 PM
No Ronnie O'Sullivan at the Masters. He withdraws 'on medical grounds' and Neil Robertson takes his place in the draw.

metro.co.uk/2025/01/10/r...
O'Sullivan will not defend Masters title as he pulls out two days before event
The Rocket will not be at Ally Pally.
metro.co.uk
January 10, 2025 at 11:36 AM
'I'm disappointed he's said that because I get on with Mike, but if he wants to be in then get higher up the rankings.'

Spoke to Nathan Aspinall on Premier League controversy, World Champs criticism and cutting out fist bumps.

metro.co.uk/2025/01/09/n...
Nathan Aspinall responds to Mike De Decker's stinging Premier League attack
Brutal from the Belgian.
metro.co.uk
January 9, 2025 at 7:17 PM
‘People ask me if I class myself as one of the all-time greats. While I’m still playing then I don’t see it like that. I feel as though I’m just another player, just another number.'

Spoke to Mark Selby about Stephen Hendry's high praise for him.

metro.co.uk/2025/01/09/m...
Selby's humble response to Hendry saying his best beats O'Sullivan's
'I just feel as though I'm just another player, just another number.'
metro.co.uk
January 9, 2025 at 7:16 PM
The lads don't mind the snow.
January 6, 2025 at 12:44 PM
Championship League Snooker action today.

Ali Carter vs Si Jiahui is a nice start to a Monday.

Table One here 👇

youtube.com/watch?v=MBhl...
January 6, 2025 at 11:06 AM
Some varied Masters preparation this weekend.

Williams, Trump and Ding at altitude in Tibet.

Murphy and Hawkins in front of a big crowd in Budapest.

Selby knocking in 147s at Penygraig Labour Club.

metro.co.uk/2025/01/06/m...
Mark Williams needs oxygen during snooker exhibition in spectacular setting
This doesn't happen during a snooker match too often.
metro.co.uk
January 6, 2025 at 9:02 AM

Really enjoyed this chat with Radzi Chinyanganya on Talking Snooker.

Loads of stuff going on in this episode. From his tough times breaking into TV to working with the Whirlwind and an ambitious Barry Hearn impression.

open.spotify.com/episode/2Iqo...
Talking Snooker Episode 191 - Radzi Chinyanganya special
Talking Snooker · Episode
open.spotify.com
January 5, 2025 at 12:33 PM