Liam Highfield is playing as well as ever and is breaking new ground at 35 years old after losing his professional status just two years ago.
The Stoke native turned pro as a teenager in 2010 and had an unbroken stint on tour until 2024, gradually making progress to a high point of number 39 in the rankings in ’22.
Everything changed in 2023, though, when he broke his wrist in an e-scooter accident and he was off the tour the following year as a result.
Returning to amateur status in his 30s could have been the end of Highfield’s career, but far from it as he regrouped and regained pro status by winning both the Q Tour Playoffs and EBSA European Championship.
He qualified for the Crucible at the end of his first season back and is now into a first ranking semi-final at the British Open, where he will take on Mark Selby on Saturday.
A 5-2 win over Stan Moody on Friday got him there and he is in confident mood after a string of good results already this season.
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‘It felt good. I’ve played well all season, really,’ Highfield told Metro. ‘At the back end of last season I played great. Everything seems to be working and I’m in a good place.
‘Generally, even when I’m playing bad, I’m digging in a bit more and getting some results.’
As a player who has always had plenty of talent and spent 14 years straight on tour after first turning pro, it is a bit of a surprise this is his first semi-final.
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Having great potential has proved both a blessing and a curse for Highfield so far in his career.
‘My ceiling is maybe higher than what I’ve shown, but that’s also my Achilles heel,’ he said. ‘When your ceiling’s high, expectation can be high.
