John Higgins produced a remarkable comeback to beat world champion Zhao Xintong 6-5 and reach the semi-finals of the Masters at Alexandra Palace. The 50-year-old Scot trailed 5-3 before an outrageous fluke turned the match in his favour.
Higgins made a mess of a plant, but one of the reds flew into the opposite pocket and the cue ball landed on the black, allowing him to square the match at 5-5. He then took a tight decider, clearing the table from the final red to move closer to a third Masters title.
“I was so lucky,” Higgins told the BBC. “It was criminal … It’s tough out there. I’m delighted and so proud I’m still doing it.” The match was the first of the tournament not to finish 6-2, the scoreline in all eight first-round matches.
Higgins will face world number one Judd Trump in the semi-finals. Trump battled past Mark Allen 6-2 in the late session, coming from behind to take the opening frame and edging a tight contest. Allen levelled at 2-2, but Trump stole the fifth frame with a half-century after Allen missed on 68.
Further breaks of 70 and 49 put Trump on the verge of victory, and he closed out a hard-earned win on the colours after Allen fought on needing snookers.
