Snooker news - Scotland claim World Cup glory in Wuxi

Scotland were 4-1 winners over the China A team of Ding Junhui and Yan Bingtao in the semi-finals before drubbing the China B team of Liang Wenbo and Zhou Yuelong 4-0 in the final of the Wuxi event, the first tournament of the new season.

Four-times world champion Higgins was part of the last Scotland team to lift the World Cup 23 years ago alongside Stephen Hendry and Alan McManus when he was only 21.

“One of my proudest moments in snooker was when I partnered Stephen (Hendry) and Alan (McManus) all those years ago to win the World Cup,” said Higgins.

“We came so close four years ago, but this more than makes up for it. A brilliant feeling and a great partner. It is a brilliant moment for both our careers.”

2004 UK champion Maguire admits he never felt so much pressure in his career representing his country with the new world champions losing 4-1 in the 2015 final to Yan Bingtao and Zhou Yuelong.

“I’ve never felt nerves like that in any professional match I have played. It is so difficult playing with a partner,” said Maguire.

“You can take it if you miss a ball on your own. It is a weird feeling and it just adds pressure.”