John Higgins
John Higgins prevailed in a rollercoaster encounter with old foe Mark Williams, winning 6-5 to make the quarter-finals of the International Snooker Championship in Nanjing.
The pair first met on the circuit back in 1994 and have contested a rivalry which includes two UK Championship finals won by Higgins and a World Championship final won by Williams.
This was the 45th time they’ve crossed cues on snooker’s professional stage and victory moves Higgins 24-21 ahead in the head-to-head standings
It is a first ranking quarter-final of the campaign for the Scot, who has endured a difficult start to the season, including two opening-round exits. Higgins will hope this victory can spark a return to form at an event where he reached the final 12 months ago, losing to now World Champion Wu Yize. Next up is Marco Fu, who defeated teenager Wang Xinbo 6-5.
It was Williams who started fastest this evening as he moved into a 3-1 lead at the mid-session interval. Higgins hit back when they returned and crafted runs of 52, 53 and 60 to take the lead, before claiming the eighth on the black to lead 5-3.
Williams refused to wilt and made breaks of 66 and 76 to force a final frame, but Higgins wasn’t to be denied and controlled the decider to seal victory.
“It is a great win for me. I was 3-1 down at the interval and didn’t really do a lot wrong. I came back at him after the interval, but he showed how good he is at 5-3. He is such a great competitor. It is a brilliant win,” said 51-year-old Higgins.
“We’ve been about for so long and are playing to a good standard into our 50s. It is unheard of really to be doing that. Listen, I keep on saying it but it is great to still be playing out there against these guys.
“These matches are what defines you as a player. I will be proud to look back on all of these matches against the great champions.
“I got to the final here last year and for me this is the second-hardest tournament to win. It is all best of 11s and if you do get to the semis they are best of 17. I got to the final last year, I am in the quarters here. It would be great to go one better.”
Chinese legend Ding Junhui punched the table with delight after potting the final pink to beat Stephen Maguire 6-5. That keeps him in the hunt for automatic qualification for the UK Championship. Next up is Kyren Wilson, who defeated Oliver Lines 6-5.
World number one Zhao Xintong progressed with a 6-3 win over Irishman Aaron Hill. He plays Chang Bingyu, who remains in position to clinch the 16th qualification place for the UK Championship. Chang eased past Yuan Sijun 6-2.
Fan Zhengyi overcame Liam Davies 6-4 to set up a last eight meeting with Iran’s Hossein Vafaei, who beat Si Jiahui 6-3.
ROUND FOUR RESULTS
Oliver Lines (Eng) 5-6 Kyrern Wilson (Eng)
Yuan Sijun (Chn) 2-6 Chang Bingyu (Chn)
Si Jiahui (Chn) 3-6 Hossein Vafaei (Egy)
Aaron Hill (Ire) 3-6 Zhao Xintong (Chn)
Mark Williams (Wal) 5-6 John Higgins (Sco)
Fan Zhengyi (Chn) 6-4 Liam Davies (Wal)
Stephen Maguire (Sco) 5-6 Ding Jinhui (Chn)
Wang Xinbo (Chn) 5-6 Marco Fu (Hkg)
