Higgins loses out to Fu in grand final quarters

THE WISHAW Wizard John Higgins is out of the Wyldecrest Parks Players Championship Grand Final in Preston after he was beaten in the quarterfinals last night by Hong Kong’s Marco Fu

Fu took the match 4-1 and now faces Northern Ireland’s Gerard Green in the semis after he took care of Antrim’s Mark Allen.

Fu’s recent good form continued, completing four breaks of more than 60 in the match as he outplayed four-time world champion Higgins.

The Scot had his chances in the opening two frames but, after leading 31-0 in the first and 45-1 in the second, he let his opponent in and Fu gleefully took the opportunity and made clearances of 87 and 75.

Higgins pulled one back with a fine 111 but he did not trouble the scorers in the next two frames as Fu rammed home his consistency, racking up breaks of 79 and 66.

Green put out his fellow UlstermanAllen 4-2 in the other quarter-final.

After the first four frames were shared, Kent-based Green took the next two 70-39, 73-36.

Allen, who had beaten Jamie Jones and Fergal O’Brien on his way to the quarters, has slipped down the world rankings this season, going from seventh to 15th.

However, he showed a return to form at the World Open title in China earlier this month when he reached the semifinals.

The left-hander had won the tournament for the previous two years.