Higgins’ brother breaks his leg in Crucible tumble

John Higgins is on course to progress to the second round at the World Championship but his opening tie against Mark Davis was overshadowed yesterday when his brother sustained a suspected broken leg at the Crucible.

Higgins got his campaign for a fifth title underway in the morning and finished the day 6-3 ahead of his English opponent in the best-of-19 contest. However, the Scot’s brother, Jason, was rushed to hospital during the morning session after reportedly falling down some stairs at the famous Sheffield venue.

Last night it was unclear whether Higgins, who is not due to face the media until the scheduled conclusion of his match today, had been aware of his brother’s predicament.

At 46 years of age, Crucible veteran Davis is the oldest player in this year’s event having won through qualifying for a record tenth time.

He started well, compiling a break of 57 to take the opening frame but Higgins soon rattled off scores of 100, 61 and 75 to take a 4-2 lead.

Davis replied with his second half-century, but Higgins, on his 25th consecutive World Championship appearance, took the next three, scoringthree-halfcenturiesin the process.

Reigning world champion Mark Williams became the first man into round two when he resisted a stubborn fightback to beat qualifier Martin Gould 10-7, while 2010 champion Neil Robertson romped to a 10-1 success against another qualifier, Michael Georgiou.

Today, Chinese debutant Luo Honghao resumes 9-0 down against England’s Shaun Murphy looking to avoid only the second whitewash in Crucible history. In 1992, Australian Eddie Charlton was beaten 10-0 by John Parrott.