Snooker:John Higgins admits giving up drinking has helped him to recapture his best form as he clinched a place in his third 888.com World Championship final.
Higgins decided to cut out the alcohol after being ordered off a plane last season after drowning his sorrows following defeat by Ken Doherty in the Malta Cup final.
Now he is facing a Crucible Theatre final with either Shaun Murphy or Mark Selby after coming from 14-10 down to defeat fellow Scot Shaun Maguire 17-15 in the semi-final.
Higgins said: "I think giving up the booze has helped me with my game. I just used to go out and enjoy myself and not practice for a few weeks.
"The Malta situation helped me to make up my mind. There were media people at my door and it wasn't nice for (wife) Denise or the neighbours.
"I do enjoy a drink but the problem is I don't know when to stop sometimes if I am out having a few drinks. I'm glad I don't touch it now. I just think I practice more.
"The weekends were all about going for a few drinks after watching Celtic and going to a club afterwards so I was never practising at weekends.
"When you've got a hangover, you don't feel as if you are really over it for a day or two so it was eating into my practice time and I was turning up still not feeling right.
"Now I am practising more. That maybe is the reason I am playing a bit better. I also feel a lot more healthy."
Higgins admitted he took inspiration from his own demise in the 2000 semi-final to Mark Williams after being ahead 14-10 going into the final session.
He said: "That match inspired me. I was thinking Stephen would be thinking exactly the same way as I was, going to bed 14-10 in front.
"All I was thinking that time was 'he is going to come back and me' and all I was thinking was protecting the lead instead of playing the normal game.
"That is maybe what happened with Stephen. Sometimes that can be the worse thing that can happen.
"I was trying to win 3-1 in the first three frames and managed that. The big frame is the slow pink he missed into the middle bag in frame 30 and I cleared up to make it 15-15.
"From then on the tension just got to both of us and I was glad to get over the finishing line.
"Getting to a third final means a lot to me but whoever I play it's going to be tough and nerve-jangling and you've got to be up for it."
Maguire admitted: "I am absolutely numb. I threw away a great opportunity to win the title and can't believe what I've done. If I win the first frame he is bang under pressure and to go 15-10 up would have been the match over.
"He cleared up and then looked a different player from there on and that gave him the belief to come back. If I win the first frame, the match is finished really.
"I may never have another chance like this, being four frames ahead in a semi-final. After that first frame, you could see he was buzzing about the table.
"I expected him to come out and fight. He is probably the best player in the world."