World champion John Higgins has urged snooker chiefs to make the sport more global.

The 33-year-old scooped his third world title at Sheffield's Crucible Theatre on Monday when he defeated Shaun Murphy 18-9.

But just four of the 32 qualifiers for the flagship event were from outside the UK or Ireland and the last overseas winner was Canada's Cliff Thorburn in 1980.

"We need to take the sport out to the nations crying out for snooker," said Higgins. "I've been to Denmark, Israel and the Czech Republic, so many places where I didn't think snooker existed and they are buzzing for it.

"It would mean everything if one of these countries could produce a champion.

"I would get as much satisfaction seeing one of the young players from abroad winning something as I get from winning something myself."