John Higgins has indicated that his retirement plans have changed after losing in the first round of the Tour Championship to Mark Allen.
The Scottish snooker icon has been at the top of the sport for three decades and has four World Championships to his name.
He's come close to adding a fifth and last reached the World Championship final back in 2019.
Only Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O'Sullivan have won more ranking titles than Higgins and has begun to face questions over when he plans to hang up his cue.
John Higgins has threatened to retire this year
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Speaking last year, the 48-year-old revealed he was hopeful of remaining in the elite group of the sport into his 50s.
“I’ve always said to myself I’d love to still be a seed and in the top 16 competing at the Masters when I’m 50," he said.
"Staying in that bracket throughout my whole career would be a good milestone.
"If I reach that one, then I’ll maybe be looking to see where my life is at that moment. Not my snooker life but my personal one.”
However, Higgins appears to have changed his tune after losing to Allen in the first round of the Tour Championship on Monday.
Despite opening up a 4-1 lead, Higgins fell away as Allen progressed with a 10-7 comeback victory.
Higgins gave Allen credit for his display before hinting this year's World Championship in Sheffield could be his "final" one.
"I thought Mark played very well tonight," Higgins told ITV.
"I should have been in front today, 4-4. then I thought Mark played better tonight.
John Higgins was knocked out of the Tour Championship by Mark Allen
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"I missed two or three unforgivable balls at this level.
"You cannot afford to miss and my long game was really non-existent as well.
"At this level it’s not good enough against the best players.
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John Higgins has won four World Championships in his career
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"I just need to dust myself down. A couple of weeks before the Worlds, try and get some good practice and go there and give it a final go, maybe."
The 2024 World Championships get underway later this month in what will be the 30th time Higgins plays at the Triple Crown event.
Ronnie O'Sullivan and Judd Trump are the favourites going into the Crucible with Luca Brecel looking to defend his crown.
