Higgins fights back but still trails Gilbert
● Scot just two frames behind in semi- final
John Higgins f ought back from one of the worst Crucible sessions of his career to keep his dream of winning a fifth World Championship t i t l e alive.
Higgins was i n desperate form for much of the morning session against David Gilbert but went on to score a tournament high break of 143 as he reduced the overnight deficit to 13- 11.
It was a gutsy performance from Wishaw’s Higgins after Gilbert had started the day by winning three straight frames – including a break of 125 in the opener – to turn a 5- 3 lead from the first session into an 8- 3 advantage. But for a missed green in the next it could have been 9- 3, but Higgins characteristically dug deep to win the next two and haul himself back into contention.
Tamworth’s Gilbert responded magnificently, with a break of 72 winning the penultimate frame and a nerveless final black sealing a 10- 6 advantage ahead of their return for the evening session.
The evening session began in bizarre fashion when the referee ordered a member of the audience to leave for apparently shouting something following the initial break- off shot.
Gilbert continued to show f e w s i g ns of ner ve s a s he e x t e n d e d h i s l e a d t o f i ve frames by taking the opener with a break of 72.
Higgins, who still seemed far from top form, pulled one back after a lengthy safety battle, and after Gilbert won the next with a 75, the Scot brilliantly cleared the colours to reduce the deficit again to 12- 8.
Higgins’ stunning clearance of 143 also saw the tournament reach 86 centuries for the fortnight, equalling the record.
Gilbert appeared unfazed and responded immediately with a break of 91 to re- establish his four- frame lead.
But the underdog’s nerves were clearly on show in the final two frames of the session, which Higgins battled through to win and reduce the deficit to 13- 11 going into this afternoon’s concluding session.
I n t he af t erno on s ession Judd Trump recovered from 6- 5 behind to take a 9- 7 lead over Gary Wilson as he tries to reach his first final since 2011.