Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Higgins trumps Judd
JOHN Higgins moved a step closer to claiming a fifth World Championship title after edging out Judd Trump at the Crucible.
The 42-year-old Scot triumphed 13-12 to book a semi-final clash with Kyren Wilson, who had earlier demolished Mark Allen 13-6.
The other last-four tie will see Barry Hawkins challenge t he veteran Welsh potter Mark Williams.
Hawkins surprised third seed Ding Junhui 13-5 while Williams saw off Ali Carter 13-8.
Higgins was 5-3 down heading into yesterday’s action and, after a topsyturvy tussle, Trump made it 11-9. However, a 134 helped Higgins take control and he would clinch the deciding frame.
Higgins, who last won the top prize in 2011, said: “What probably made my win, was I enjoyed it.
“It must be heartbreaking for (Trump) but for me to come out winning is a brilliant feeling.
“I don’t know what it is but we seem to play classics all the time.
“He was the better player in the match and I was hanging on to his coat tails. He must hate the sight of me.”
Wilson, who had lost in the quarter-finals in each of the last two years, said of his conquest of Allen: “I definitely wouldn’t say it was the biggest win of my career, it’s up there.
“It was always a goal of mine to reach the one-table set-up and I just can’t wait to get out there and experience it.
In his match, Hawkins swiftly won the two frames he needed against an out-of-sorts Ding, finishing the surprisingly one-sided contest in style with a break of 117.