The moment of the world snooker championship so far has not been an epic meeting on the table – but an emotional embrace on television.
The scene took place on Tuesday evening, when John Higgins fell into tears in live tears on the BBC after his victory lasts in the first round against Joe O’Connor.
In his post-match interview, the quadruple world champion `Drained ” spoke of his stepfather’s heart attack the previous week, while reflecting on the loss of his own father against cancer in 2011.
Then, with Higgins surmounted with emotion and fighting to speak, the presenter of the BBC Seema Jaswal came out of her chair to make her a hug – a spontaneous gesture that hit the thousands of viewers at home.
Here, the host of Snooker Jaswal explains to Sport Mail Why she felt forced to comfort the legendary Scottish …
Seema Jaswal (left) comforted John Higgins (in the center) when he melted in tears on live television
Jaswal revealed that it was a natural reaction to kiss Higgins after being so open to his difficulties
The Higgins stepfather underwent a heart attack last week, and the Scottish admitted that he was “drained” after his victory in the first round in the crucible
Who would have thought that a hug with Higgins would become viral?
At that time, when you see someone so vulnerable and emotional, it was just my instinct to get up and hug him. I would do it in any situation, and I would like to think that most presenters of my position would do the same.
I know what it is to spend a difficult period and, when you are on live television where the world is watching you, it can be very difficult. There are times when you need this level of support and I felt that it was one of them.
The reason it has so much traction may be that we don’t see it enough. But I have the impression that presenting is also human. Empathy is very important.
When you are the first person to speak to a player after a match, and that he will come to pay you his heart, I have the impression that we have the responsibility to take care of them.
I knew that John’s stepfather had undergone a heart attack in the accumulation of crucible and that it had been a difficult week for him, but I still don’t think that I expected this level of emotion at that time.
While he was talking, I would probably get out of my chair earlier, but I just wanted to let him speak.
I asked him if there was something specific that had made him so emotional and it was then that he was not only his stepfather, but he thought of his father and his son.
Jaswal said it was important that she showed empathy for a difficult time for Higgins
Higgins lost his own father – John Senior – against cancer after a six -year battle in February 2011
It reminds us of all that you never really know what’s going on in someone’s world. We think we do it, and we are here to enjoy these incredible superstars and athletes whatever the sport, but we don’t do it.
I did not expect the interview to follow this way, but I am really happy that he could be so open with us and I deserve it.
I think it’s really important when you have a platform to speak openly because you don’t realize how many people you could really help.
We saw Ronnie O’Sullivan and Mark Selby be very open to their mental health. Mark Allen also talked about the use of a sport psychologist and Kyren Wilson spoke of hypnotherapy.
I know that John’s situation was different and it was more emotional effusion, but years ago, many people would have had the impression that they should have bottled it and not talk about it. I’m glad he spoke.
I have been working in a snooker for nine years now and we are like a big family. That’s why I love her so much.
We are all close to players and their families, and we have relationships with them outside of tournaments.
Ronnie O’Sullivan has been very open to her own mental health problems in recent years
2024 World Champion Kyren Wilson also revealed how hypnotherapy helped him, and Jaswal thinks that the Snooker community is now a big family that looks at each other
When they strengthen this level of confidence with you, it is when they feel that they can be vulnerable. I think that may be why John felt that he could be emotional with us.
With someone like John, whose children and the family I met, I will never let him sit there and cry without getting up and hug him, whether I am on television live or not.
I do not remember if I had hugged someone on television live before, but I don’t think someone broke down this way before with me.
I really appreciated the outpouring of the love I had, but all the merit must go to John for having been able to speak so openly about his emotions with us.
Look at all the action of the World Snooker 2025 world championship live from Sheffield on BBC Sport.
