He's got plenty of admirers of course. But anyone who thinks all is forgotten, is sadly very misinformed. For every snooker who wants to move on from the scandal which left a stinking black cloud above the sport in May, there's another who wishes the book was thrown at the three-time world champion. There are people out there who still want him banned.
Whatever your view on this thorny issue, you cannot deny the class Higgins brings to the table.
His record since returning keeps getting better and better.After beating Mark Allen 9-5 in today's UK semi-final, he's played 20 matches, and won 19 of them. That's just a remarkable record from any angle.
His win in Telford against the world number 11 was actually even better than that though. At one stage in this match he was 4-2 behind, but came back to win seven of the next eight to clinch the match.
Despite all the controversy, Higgins has managed to retain his champion-like attributes. And that's why, no matter what has gone, I cannot help but admire his bouncebackability.
On Sunday, he'll be competing in the UK Championship final, a feat which was hardly deemed feasible just six months ago.
Whether you believe justice was done, or he's a very lucky boy, his comeback has been magnificent. He's entered into the second chapter of his career, and he's playing as well as ever.
On this week's showing alone, he deserves to be in that final.
John Higgins, I salute you!
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