Maguire and Higgins break into quarters at the Emirates
SCOTTISH potters Stephen Maguire and John Higgins are both through to the last 16 at the Dafabet Scottish Open, with wins on day four of the tournament.
There was however an end to the fairytale for Wishaw youngster Chris Totten after he bowed out against one of the world’s best – Neil Robertson.
The Australian’s class told in their third-round encounter, with breaks of 79 and 56 helping him to take the first two frames.
Robertson edged the third and then delivered a break of 97 in the fourth to settle the contest.
Despite the defeat, 19-year- old Totten has caused a stir at the tournament taking place at Glasgow’s Emirates Arena, creating upsets by beating Wales’ Sam Baird and England’s Mitchell Mann in previous rounds.
“I kept creating chances and my safety was really good but every time I got in the table felt a lot different in this one,” said Totten.
“I know Neil’s [Robertson] not in the top 16 now but he’s a top-eight player every day of the week so he just took his chances and that’s all you can say about it – better luck next time.
“It’s good that I’ve had some success here because I was turning up to some tournaments and it’s almost as if you’re walking off embarrassed like they think I can’t pot a black off the spot!
“I managed to play pretty acceptable anyway in the first two games, I just didn’t take my chances against Neil and he was always going to punish me.”
Totten heads to the D88 German Masters qualifiers in Barnsley next week but there was better news for his more experienced compatriot Higgins.
The world No.5 triumphed 4-0 over Northern Ireland’s Gerard Greene in their thirdround match on the afternoon of day four.
Higgins was the strong favourite for the game, being ranked 88 places above Greene, and so it proved as Higgins won comfortably 70-12 72-29 132-0 113-0.
The 42-year-old will face Ashley Hugill, 23, in the last 16 after he came through the all-Yorkshire match against Peter Lines.
Having reached the final last year Higgins is one of the fa- vourites for the tournament but if he is to win he’ll have to overcome an i n-form Ronnie O’Sullivan.
The Englishman, fresh from winning the UK Championship last week, edged through his third-round encounter with Li Hang with a 4-3 win.
O’Sullivan started superbly before faltering, and appeared to rest his eyes at times, before turning things round to take the final two frames.
Higgins and O’Sullivan are joined in the last 16 by Glasgow’s Stephen Maguire in his home tournament.
The world No.18 has been in good shape so far as he chases both the £70,000 prize and Stephen Hendry trophy.
Maguire beat Alex Borg 4-0 before downing Hamza Akbar 4-2 in round two, and beat Yan Bingtao 4-3 on day four. his rivals.
The two-time world champion told Sky Sports: “It is always nice to come back to the Alexandra Palace for the World Championship. A great game like this to start off a tournament is always nice for your confidence.
“I also want to say well done to Christian Kist. He put me under pressure and played well. It was a nice start for me. I am really glad I won this game.”
Van Gerwen will take on James Wilson in the second round.
Wilson, who has changed his nickname from ‘Jammy Dodger’ to ‘Lethal Biscuit’, came from behind to see off Krzysztof Ratajski 3-1.
Earlier, Steve Beaton kicked off the evening with a routine 3-1 victory over William O’Connor.