Four-time world champion John Higgins launched a remarkable unprovoked attack on Joe Johnson and snooker’s players-turned-commentators after his 6-4 UK Championship win over Jamie Burnett.

Higgins has struggled for form this season and, going into his bid for a fourth UK title at the York Barbican Centre, changed his cue for the second time this season.

That prompted an accusation from Bradford’s 1986 world champion Johnson that the Scot was “searching for something that is not there” and “looking for someone or something to blame”.

But Higgins was angered by Johnson’s criticism and said: “The table’s so tight. The old players would never have made ten or 20. They’re probably sitting there watching and giving you dog’s abuse and they’ll be saying it on camera.

“But when you see the buckets they used to play in in the 80s, these guys couldn’t make 30 or 40.

“We’re struggling big time. There are still record breaks and everything but I can just imagine what some of the older players are saying.

“I heard before the tournament Joe Johnson was slating me. If that guy isn’t the worst commentator in the world, he’s in the top three.

“How he ever got to be world champion, and he can say some of the shots that he does say...

“That game wasn’t even on TV, thank God, but I can just imagine what they’re all saying.”