Players Championship recap- Kyren Wilson hits back to sink Neil Robertson in epic semi-final after John Higgins recovery
Updated 21/03/2025 at 23:00 GMT
The top 16 players on the one-year list were chasing silverware in the Players Championship, but we're now down to three. John Higgins is through to a semi-final against Judd Trump, while Kyren Wilson has booked his spot in the final after an absolute thriller. Watch and stream top snooker action, including the World Championship, live and on demand on TNT Sports and discovery+.
Robertson lands historic World Grand Prix final whitewash via stunning long plant
Video credit: TNT Sports
World champion Kyren Wilson hit back from 4-1 down to edge Neil Robertson 6-5 in an absorbing Players Championship semi-final in Telford.
World Grand Prix champion Robertson produced breaks of 100, 83 and 73, before an inspired Wilson restored parity at 4-4 with clinical knocks of 116 and 57.
Robertson won his second frame of the night on a black-ball finish on a re-spotted black, with Wilson going in off to the right middle pocket.
But the world No. 2 steeled himself superbly, with closing runs of 89 and 134 securing a meeting with Judd Trump or John Higgins in Sunday's best-of-19 frame final.
"It is all about digging in, and at 4-1 I had to do that," said Wilson. "It is great to keep having these opportunities, but it is not easy to keep dusting yourself down when you lose a close one.
"Judd and John are class players. I hope they take it out of each other."
Earlier in the day, Higgins himself struck back from the brink of defeat to complete a 6-5 win over Xiao Guodong in an epic quarter-final.
The four-time world champion looked to be on the way out when his opponent produced breaks of 111, 55, 60 and 104 to lead 5-2, but a combination of bad luck and poor decision-making cost him the chance of victory as Higgins refused to buckle.
Xiao had numerous chances to see out the win, but Higgins, who had top scored with a 97 in winning the third frame, produced 70 and 51 on his way to claiming the final four frames amid some high tension.
He will face world No. 1 Judd Trump in the second semi-final on Saturday night, after completing a second straight 6-5 win following his victory over Chris Wakelin in the first round.
ROBERTSON 5-5 WILSON (0-134)
What a way to finish from the world champion. A 6-5 victory from 4-1 down. A total clearance of 134 from Wilson, who wins an epic semi-final in some style.
ROBERTSON 5-5 WILSON (0-77)
Brown is canned and back down for the reds. Dribbles in red and that is probably that for this semi-final. A poor break-off shot has cost Robertson this match. Tough old school. A clench of the fist from Wilson, who will face Judd Trump or John Higgins in the final.
ROBERTSON 5-5 WILSON (0-58)
Just a case of keeping the head together and white ball under tight control. Looks like a done deal here.
ROBERTSON 5-5 WILSON (0-45)
Excellent shot on blue to come in and out of baulk, and suddenly the coast looks clear for a winning thrust.
ROBERTSON 5-5 WILSON (0-39)
Wilson looking to get this match won in one visit. Leaves a decent angle on black to attack the bunch. Out come a few reds. They are open. And Kyren clips in a red bridging over another red.
ROBERTSON 5-5 WILSON (0-7)
Errant red comes back down table from break-off shot to sit over a centre pocket. First chance for Wilson to resume scoring here.
ROBERTSON 5-4 WILSON (0-89)
No ton as a red doesn't drop, but 89 is just the job for Wilson. And it is all square at 5-5.
ROBERTSON 5-4 WILSON (0-67)
Wallops in blue to green pocket. Lands on red to right centre. And could be a century coming up too.
ROBERTSON 5-4 WILSON (0-49)
Some lovely shot-making already in this break. Neil might need to start steeling himself for the decider. Has looked like 5-5 from some time ago.
ROBERTSON 5-4 WILSON (0-45)
This is a seriously good chance to build a big lead in this frame. Wilson all business here. Spots a plant on reds too. Which should help the situation out there.
ROBERTSON 5-4 WILSON (0-14)
Robertson with a safety blunder early in the 10th frame. And Kyren drops in a red using the rest. First chance to the world champion, who is looking to force the deciding frame. Face looks redder than the pack at the moment.
ROBERTSON 5-4 WILSON (0-0)
Quite a dramatic finale to what has been a fine match. Wilson needs the final two frames to win it, Robbo looking for one.
ROBERTSON 4-4 WILSON (64-57)
Who will blink first here? And it is Wilson, who goes in off the black to right centre after sticking black over a top pocket. Think he thought the white deviated off line from deep. A 5-4 lead for Robbo.
ROBERTSON 4-4 WILSON (57-57)
Wilson punches in the brown with the spider. What a shot that is. In goes the blue to yellow bag. Pink and black are drained. What a clearance that is from Kyren. And we will need the black brought back up again. Kyren put in after Neil wins toss.
ROBERTSON 4-4 WILSON (57-30)
Kyren needing two reds and blacks and all the colours to force a re-spotted black. And he slams in a long red before coming back down for the black. Next red is negotiated and in goes black too. What a chance then to force the re-spot on colours.
ROBERTSON 4-4 WILSON (57-14)
On cusp of a 5-4 lead. 43 clear with a possible 43 remaining. 56 break from Neil. Which was just what he needed.
ROBERTSON 4-4 WILSON (44-14)
Two reds tied up on side rail, but this is a fabulous response so far from the Aussie. Showing real grit at the key time.
ROBERTSON 4-4 WILSON (8-14)
Wilson rattles green bag with a long red before Robertson drops in a supreme red to left middle. Chance then for Robbo to piece together a few points. Nobody taking a step back tonight.
ROBERTSON 4-4 WILSON (1-14)
Black tied up. Suddenly both players forced to exchange safety shots as match heads down to the business end of matters.
ROBERTSON 4-4 WILSON (1-13)
Both men missing balls at key pressure points early in this 10th frame. Wilson a brown then Robbo a blue. Kyren forced to run safe on 12.
ROBERTSON 4-4 WILSON (18-4)
Neil missing a mid-range red that he expected to drop. This match running for two hours. Eight frames. Has been quite the pace. Going to a be re-rack for this ninth frame rather than a sustained period of rolling up to reds.
ROBERTSON 4-4 WILSON (5-0)
Wilson not even contemplating a safety shot. Long red just fails to drop, and Neil manages to clip in a red to left centre. In goes green to left middle, and Robbo has first scoring chance of this frame.
ROBERTSON 4-4 WILSON (0-0)
Robbo breaks off then for the ninth frame of this joust. Could go either way now.
ROBERTSON 4-3 WILSON (2-70)
Feels like we are heading down to the best-of-three for a final place on Sunday. Robbo needs a snooker otherwise this is 4-4. Blue doesn't follow red and Robbo nods to the referee.
ROBERTSON 4-3 WILSON (1-54)
Second visit of the frame for Kyren, who looks well pumped up this evening. Does not like losing. That much is true.
ROBERTSON 4-3 WILSON (1-32)
Wilson breaking down on 31 as attempt on a tough red with the rest doesn't drop. Kyren looks far from happy, but Neil then misses a pink off spot seconds later. What a chance he has passed up there.
ROBERTSON 4-3 WILSON (0-8)
Robertson has a thump at a long red. Nowhere near the potting angle, and suddenly forced to pull up a chair. Wilson on the move early on.
ROBERTSON 4-2 WILSON (13-103)
Is this match heading all the way? Would not be a huge surprise with both men clearly in stroke.
ROBERTSON 4-2 WILSON (13-72)
Won't be a big counter punch though as Robertson misses a sitter of a red. Takes his eye off the pot. Which is always costly. Kyren back to 4-3 behind in race to six. Four more frames remaining, but match still very tight.
ROBERTSON 4-2 WILSON (7-57)
Wilson misses a red and sticks it up. Was not easy cueing off side rail. How costly is that miss going to prove?
ROBERTSON 4-2 WILSON (0-57)
Looks like this semi-final could soon be heading back to 4-3. One missed red by Neil has opened the door for Wilson. Looks like break is over on 57 as he doesn't land on red from potting blue to right centre. Goes for a tough cut on a red, but doesn't make it. Doesn't leave a red for Neil. Which is fortunate.
ROBERTSON 4-2 WILSON (0-26)
A mid-range red from Kyren is stunned home and he holds for blue to yellow bag. Not easy to work this out with black off spot, but you'd rather have the dilemma than sitting in the chair.
ROBERTSON 4-2 WILSON (0-12)
Another red pokes its head out from the Robbo break-off shot and Kyren slots the long red. Every chance than for Wilson to again advance his cause at this visit.
ROBERTSON 4-1 WILSON (6-116)
Excellent knock of 116 from Kyren as double on black doesn't drop, but carrying the fight right back to Robbo, whose missed red from side rail cost him the frame.
ROBERTSON 4-1 WILSON (6-101)
What a level of play tonight. Green disappears as break reaches 101. Match right in the mixer.
ROBERTSON 4-1 WILSON (6-67)
Lovely cannon on pink to clip out the reds and they are all open now. Chance of a century for the world champion.
ROBERTSON 4-1 WILSON (6-47)
This is an ideal, quickfire response from Wilson as break reaches 47. Not hanging around out there. A real speed merchant these days.
ROBERTSON 4-1 WILSON (6-38)
Kyren up for blue then so he can attack the pack of reds. Off two cushions and one red joins the white. Which he rolls down table into yellow pocket.
ROBERTSON 4-1 WILSON (6-14)
Big visit to the table in progress for Kyren you would suggest. The way Neil is hitting the ball. Chances at a premium.
ROBERTSON 4-1 WILSON (6-7)
Another stunning long red by Robbo is despatched and he follows it in with blue to right centre. But tough piece of cueing on red catches him out. Red wriggles out. Kyren handed some scope then to recover.
ROBERTSON 3-1 WILSON (73-0)
In goes red with rest. Another super pot. Red stays out on 73. So no ton, but now a three-frame advantage. Two more frames needed to book his final spot.
ROBERTSON 3-1 WILSON (67-0)
Not many players can look at one with the table. Ronnie and Judd are very similar when they build up a head of steam. Neil in full flow out there.
ROBERTSON 3-1 WILSON (47-0)
Very aggressive again from Neil among the balls. In goes black and he spins open the reds too. Glorious chance for a 4-1 lead in this semi-final.
ROBERTSON 3-1 WILSON (19-0)
Seeing these balls with some clarity out there. Looking to crack on with the scoring at the business end of the table.
ROBERTSON 3-1 WILSON (5-0)
Robbo with a lovely pick out to make a long-range plant on reds before dropping in brown to left centre. What a chance he has given himself here to build another lead.
ROBERTSON 3-1 WILSON (0-0)
Off we go then for the second half of this match. Robbo seeking three more frames. Kyren five from a possible seven.
ROBERTSON 2-1 WILSON (60-58)
Kyren goes for another cross double. Very aggressive. Doesn't drop and Neil clips in black to left middle. A 3-1 lead for the Aussie after a thrilling fourth frame.
ROBERTSON 2-1 WILSON (53-58)
Superb cameo knock from Kyren. Goes for a double on black to win frame, but just off potting angle. Leaves it safe. Neil then gets second prize of black running safe after almost holing black to yellow pocket. All happening.
ROBERTSON 2-1 WILSON (53-43)
Robertson ends up going in off with white disappearing down yellow bag. Kyren drains a long red, but quickly encountering issues on colours. In goes green and out comes pink. Brilliant shot there. Needing final four colours.
ROBERTSON 2-1 WILSON (53-29)
Robbo with a lovely long red before he knocks pink safe and plays snooker. Kyren escapes, but Neil not in a bad position with one red left up.
ROBERTSON 2-1 WILSON (52-29)
Kyren failing to cash in though as Robbo moves 23 points clear heading for the final two reds. Wide open then. A bit more of a scrap this fourth frame. Which you love to see.
ROBERTSON 2-1 WILSON (20-28)
Great recovery pot by Kyren on a red using red. Very proficient with the rest, and does well to land on black too.
ROBERTSON 2-1 WILSON (20-6)
Didn't see that coming though as Robbo tries to inject some pace into a pot on black, but misses black bridging over another red. Kyren bounds back to table. Would have been fearing the worst.
ROBERTSON 2-1 WILSON (19-0)
A thumping long red by Neil with side before he rolls in brown to left centre. Chance again for Robbo to reassert himself. Lovely cut on black, into the reds and back down for another red to right middle. Great chance already in this frame. Kill or be killed out there in these frames so far.
ROBERTSON 2-1 WILSON (0-0)
Second semi-final will be contested between Judd Trump and John Higgins on Saturday evening in Telford. Top four seeds on the sport's one-year list have all reached the last four. Which is something of a rarity.
ROBERTSON 2-0 WILSON (0-79)
Wilson fighting fire with fire out there. Just under eight minutes, and a run of 78 sees Kyren close to 2-1 behind. One frame before the mid-sesh. Kyren 5-4 ahead on career head-to-heads.. And this looks like it could be as close as that stat.
ROBERTSON 2-0 WILSON (0-42)
Wilson looks in very fine touch himself, but it is all about cashing in when the chances come along. And so far, so good in this break as a tough red to left middle is canned.
ROBERTSON 2-0 WILSON (0-25)
Wilson with a fine long red of his own early in the third frame. Looking to make some progress after the rampant Robbo show in the first two frames.
ROBERTSON 1-0 WILSON (83-16)
Neil with an 83 break as a red just fails to drop. No century, but doesn't really matter. All Robbo at the moment.
ROBERTSON 1-0 WILSON (68-16)
A 2-0 lead then for the Aussie as break reaches 68 with more to come. 21 seconds AST. Getting right on with it. Very fluent.
ROBERTSON 1-0 WILSON (54-16)
These could all have been Kyren's. And he knows it. There is a chance of a second century too from the Melbourne man. Which illustrates his level of confidence.
ROBERTSON 1-0 WILSON (40-16)
Kyren discovering here what happens when you misses an easy ball against a man approaching peak form like Robbo. Looks good for 2-0 incoming here. Neil rightly taking his time over this break.
ROBERTSON 1-0 WILSON (1-16)
A fine start to this match between two world champions. Robbo in first with a ton, but Kyren has responded with a couple of lovely pots after Neil fails to hole a long red. But Kyren then breaks down on 16 as a red stays out. Didn't see that coming. Chance passes to Robbo.
ROBERTSON 0-0 WILSON (124-1)
A big crowd in this evening. And they loved that clearance of 100 from Robbo as he hits the front in this semi-final.
ROBERTSON 0-0 WILSON (75-1)
This is superb from Neil. A bit methodical, but can't argue with the outcome. Looks like his 980th career century is coming up.
ROBERTSON 0-0 WILSON (47-1)
Robbo certainly leaving himself with some mid-range pots on reds. Which he is usually fairly good at. Nudges in a nice red to hold for black, and suddenly chance is there to get frame won.
ROBERTSON 0-0 WILSON (39-1)
A stunning shot by Neil to knock in a red hanging over right centre with another red before pulling back for black. Really was a piece of green baize magic. Second chance for Robbo to crack on in this opening frame.
ROBERTSON 0-0 WILSON (24-1)
Robbo looking to make a flying start to the night, but he misses a red to right centre on 24. Didn't expect that to stay out. Was trying to hold for blue. Which caused the issue.
ROBERTSON 0-0 WILSON (1-0)
Welcome back to Telford. We go again with this opening semi-final match between Neil Robertson and world champion Kyren Wilson. Early chance for Robbo to get hand on table in this first frame of night.
- - -
John Higgins hit back from the brink of defeat to complete a 6-5 win over Xiao Guodong in an epic Players Championship quarter-final in Telford.
The four-time world champion looked to be on the way out when his opponent produced breaks of 111, 55, 60 and 104 to lead 5-2, but a combination of bad luck and poor decision-making cost him the chance of victory as Higgins refused to buckle.
Xiao had numerous chances to see out the win, but Higgins, who had top scored with a 97 in winning the third frame, produced 70 and 51 on his way to claiming the final four frames amid some high tension.
He will face world No. 1 Judd Trump in the second semi-final on Saturday night, after completing a second straight 6-5 win following his victory over Chris Wakelin in the first round.
World champion Kyren Wilson meets Neil Robertson in the opening semi-final on Friday night.
RESULT: HIGGINS 6-5 XIAO
"As you are winning frame by frame, you are thinking the pressure is maybe getting to Xiao a bit," said Higgins on ITV. "I feel my game is there, but I've just been running out of position and scrapping away. Xiao will be devastated as he looked great at 5-2, but didn't get a split on reds. It just shows what happens when you are on a bit of a run."
HIGGINS 5-5 XIAO (77-0)
Higgins with a closing break of 51 as he secures a 6-5 win over Xiao Guodong. He will face Judd Trump in the last four on Saturday night.
HIGGINS 5-5 XIAO (52-0)
Higgins with another poor shot during this break, but he recovers well to nudge in a red to right middle. In goes blue to green pocket. Lead over 50 points. Almost a done deal as plant disappears.
HIGGINS 5-5 XIAO (33-0)
Looks like Xiao is a spent force in this match as another red to right centre is overcut. Tension has all got too much as Higgins returns to the table aiming to see out this victory and a semi-final with Judd Trump on Saturday night in Telford.
HIGGINS 5-5 XIAO (27-0)
This has been a real struggle for John, but he bags a tough red along top cush after running out of position. Nicely back out for black too. Faced with another tough red, and he misses red to right centre. Higgins looks far from happy with his lot.
HIGGINS 5-5 XIAO (13-0)
Xiao can't escape from snooker and he leaves John an easy starter too. Which just about sums up the direction of travel since 5-2. What is he going to come up with here?
HIGGINS 5-5 XIAO (1-0)
All or nothing for both of these men then. Xiao must be asking himself how he has allowed this to reach 5-5. Looked well in control at 5-2. Long red from Higgins, but not on a baulk colour and rolls up behind brown.
HIGGINS 4-5 XIAO (69-28)
Higgins sees a red stick in the jaws of yellow pocket down the table. How did that not drop? But Xiao misses a mid-range red on final red. Surely the final chance for Xiao in this 10th frame. Higgins cans red and lands on blue. We are heading all the way in Telford then.
HIGGINS 4-5 XIAO (60-22)
And right on cue, Higgins misses a red to right middle and is left shaking his head. Nothing coming easily out there as Xiao fires a long red at green bag, but nowhere near it. Higgins takes out cut on a red to right centre. Higgins on cusp of taking us all the way here.
HIGGINS 4-5 XIAO (32-22)
John tries to clip home a red from distance, but doesn't drop. Chance for Xiao to see this out but he only adds four points before missing a blue to left centre. Nerves clearly telling out there.
HIGGINS 4-5 XIAO (32-18)
So Higgins on the move here in the frame he needs to force this match to a deciding frame. Into the lead, but again can't get the bunch open nicely. Forced to take his medicine on 32 and play safe.
HIGGINS 4-5 XIAO (8-18)
A blunder by Higgins in this 10th frame give Xiao first poke at balls. But he is quickly out of position on 18 and misses a tough red cueing across the table from a side rail. Chance gone as the tension builds.
HIGGINS 4-5 XIAO (0-0)
Snooker never ceases to amaze. Xiao could easily have been home and hosed, but he twice didn't get an ideal split on reds and this match is still alive.
HIGGINS 3-5 XIAO (84-13)
A 41 to conlclude matters in this frame. Xiao one up now with a possible two to play.
HIGGINS 3-5 XIAO (66-13)
Quite a turnaround in the mood music of this match, it must be said. Xiao has had chances to win this 6-2 and 6-3, but suddenly looks like a 5-4 battle and all increasingly tight.
HIGGINS 3-5 XIAO (43-13)
Another fine long red by Xiao, but not on an easy red after opening reds off blue. And he misses the red to left centre with black obstructing the potting angle. What a chance then for Higgins to close to 5-4 here.
HIGGINS 3-5 XIAO (43-7)
Higgins breaking down at a key moment and the error is magnified when Xiao flukes a blue as he misses to green pocket and blue flies along baulk cushion and into the yellow pocket. But only one more point coming off that visit. Runs safe off brown in baulk. All happening out there.
HIGGINS 3-5 XIAO (29-0)
Pink is on the brown spot after the Scotsman makes a nice pot to right centre. A remarkable fluke on a red to right centre after he misses tough cutback red. That is astonishing. White connected perfectly with red and it jumped down pocket. But out of position on 29 and just safety to follow.
HIGGINS 3-5 XIAO (8-0)
Higgins has never been a player to give up the ghost. Another sublime long red is drained by John and he lands on black too. So Higgins with first go at the balls in this ninth frame.
HIGGINS 2-5 XIAO (74-32)
These could all have been Xiao's balls. But Higgins with the break of 70 and he trails 5-3 in the race to six. All to play for.
HIGGINS 2-5 XIAO (59-32)
This has been excellent from Higgins in response to the blunder by Xiao. Looks like he is going to claw another frame back.
HIGGINS 2-5 XIAO (38-32)
Higgins battling to stay alive in this contest. And he moves into the lead in the frame.
HIGGINS 2-5 XIAO (9-32)
All about the split on the pack for Xiao you suspect. Strikes the pack with real authority, but not sure he is on an easy red. Faced with a tough shot now. And Xiao calls a foul on himself as a push shot after taking on a tough red bridging over the white. A reprieve for John then.
HIGGINS 2-5 XIAO (0-14)
Higgins left with a tricky escape from a snooker, but doesn't hit the white hard enough off a cushion and leaves Xiao with an easy starter in this eighth frame. How far can he go to the winning post at this visit?
HIGGINS 2-4 XIAO (0-82)
Needed about four visits to get the job done, but they all count. Xiao one frame away from securing a semi-final meeting with Judd Trump on Saturday night.
HIGGINS 2-4 XIAO (0-65)
Far from a vintage frame, but again Xiao has been the most likely winner. Almost knocks in a red after slotting black, but red holds on to a top pocket and that will be good enough for a 5-2 lead for Xiao.
HIGGINS 2-4 XIAO (0-51)
Higgins throwing in a lot of slack safety shots at the wrong time. Xiao inching towards the winning line in this frame as lead passes 50 points.
HIGGINS 2-4 XIAO (0-39)
Great long red from Xiao and he is out nicely on blue too. But fails to land on pink nicely after next red and misses the object ball to left centre. Apart from blue, all colours safe.
HIGGINS 2-4 XIAO (0-32)
All getting very nervy out there with Higgins throwing in a couple of poor safety shots, but Xiao can't punish from distance.
HIGGINS 2-4 XIAO (0-28)
Every chance here to move three ahead with a possible four to play, but he ends up losing the white down to the baulk end after rolling in black. Safety to follow. Only 28 scored.
HIGGINS 2-4 XIAO (0-12)
Both men missing balls early on. Xiao with an attempt at a long red that doesn't drop. Higgins then tries to clip in a red, but ends up seeing the red stick in the jaws of a top pocket. How big an error is that going to prove to be?
HIGGINS 2-4 XIAO (0-0)
Off we go then for frame seven of a possible 11. Vital that John joined the party to show Xiao he is still an active threat among the balls.
HIGGINS 1-4 XIAO (83-0)
Higgins declares on 83 with long red down table to yellow pocket staying out as he reduces gap to only two frames.
HIGGINS 1-4 XIAO (76-0)
But he opts against going for the maximum by slotting red to left centre and holds for green. Never mind. Frame is in bag. Higgins back to 4-2 behind.
HIGGINS 1-4 XIAO (72-0)
John producing a nice run to 64. All reds and blacks so far. Nudges in a superb red to right middle and he is back on the black too. Now then. Interesting times.
HIGGINS 1-4 XIAO (32-0)
Great recovery pot on a red using the swan neck rest, and he lands nicely on black too. Vital that Higgins weighs in with something worthwhile at this visit.
HIGGINS 1-4 XIAO (8-0)
All the heavy lifting has been done by Xiao in Telford today, but John with a fine long red early in the sixth frame. Cutback black is downed. Not ideally on next red as Higgins studies the situation.
HIGGINS 1-3 XIAO (23-104)
His 50th century of the season and on he goes to lead Higgins 4-1 in this quarter-final. A long way back from this predicament.
HIGGINS 1-3 XIAO (16-79)
Xiao playing the balls and not the man today. Higgins being heavily punished for failing to score out there. Another century incoming.
HIGGINS 1-3 XIAO (16-52)
So Xiao makes the run into the pack of four reds. Lands on one nicely to top left-hand corner. And back up for the blue. This looks very much like a 4-1 advantage for the Chinese player.
HIGGINS 1-3 XIAO (16-31)
Xiao into the lead then in this fifth frame. Has yet to open the pack of reds, but doesn't look under any strain out there.
HIGGINS 1-3 XIAO (16-5)
John looking to cash in on an early blunder by his opponent in leaving an easy starter. But he reaches 16 before breaking down in misjuding a pot on a red that he misses. Xiao not being punished as he returns to table.
HENDRY 'DISAPPOINTED' WITH HIGGINS AFTER WORLD OPEN
Stephen Hendry has urged John Higgins to be "more aggressive" as his fellow Scot bids for glory at the Players Championship in Telford. Higgins survived an epic battle with Chris Wakelin in the first round to seal a 6-5 victory on the final pink. He meets Xiao Guodong in the last eight after Xiao edged Wu Yize by the same scoreline. The winner faces world No. 1 Judd Trump in the semi-finals.
Read more here:
HIGGINS 1-2 XIAO (5-68)
A 60 break from Xiao to go with the earlier 111 and 55 and he leads 3-1 in the race to six. Higgins with a 97 of his own in the third frame.
HIGGINS 1-2 XIAO (5-67)
Xiao will be very pleased with how he has competed on the safety and scoring side with Higgins so far today. Difficult to argue he has not been good for a 3-1 lead.
HIGGINS 1-2 XIAO (5-29)
An error by Higgins sticks up a red for Xiao to resume scoring after a tense safety duel. That could be a big blow in this fourth frame the way Xiao is scoring. Looks like a very inviting table to attack.
HIGGINS 1-2 XIAO (4-4)
Higgins would dearly love to restore parity in this match at 2-2 before he has a cuppa at break. Nice escape from Xiao coming off two cushions to get out of a snooker. Xiao playing some excellent safety shots to apply the pressure on John.
HIGGINS 1-2 XIAO (0-0)
Xiao breaks off for the fourth frame of this absorbing contest. Two blokes clearly in good touch.
HIGGINS 0-2 XIAO (112-0)
97 from John is just what the doctor ordered. Higgins trails 2-1 with one more frame to come before the mid-sesh.
HIGGINS 0-2 XIAO (107-0)
Looks like John might be on his way to a century here too. One of the GOATs of the game showing his class.
HIGGINS 0-2 XIAO (89-0)
This is much more like it from Higgins. Suddely back in touch and right back in this match. Looks like the man who won the World Open earlier this month.
HIGGINS 0-2 XIAO (42-0)
A safety blunder by Xiao presents John with chance to get hand on table and build a decent lead here. Has been dominant so far in this frame, and it looks like his patience may pay off.
HIGGINS 0-2 XIAO (15-0)
Fabulous long red by John, but he loses the white seconds later. So looks like he might have to run safe again here.
HIGGINS 0-2 XIAO (9-0)
Xiao missing reds twice off side cushion before getting there the third time when he could see a red on side rail. Not sure he was told he had to hit a red there by the referee. Three-rule miss in snooker has to be invoked by referee. No matter in the end. Great flick of a red by Xiao to run safe.
HIGGINS 0-2 XIAO (8-0)
John gets the balls moving for the third frame of a possible 11. Perhaps fortunate not to leave a red to left middle. Got cover behind green. Early bout of safety going on.
HIGGINS 0-1 XIAO (0-99)
And this match races to 2-0 in little over 30 minutes. Higgins with one red potted so far. And that was a fluke. The great Scot on the back foot so far.
HIGGINS 0-1 XIAO (0-59)
A lead then of 44 for the Chinese player in the second frame as he overruns the white in and out of baulk trying to come back down for a red off black to left middle. Just safety to follow, but another error by Higgins sticks up the long red to a top pocket. Same outcome as red is punched home and another chance to get this second frame won for Xiao. But again he overcooks the positional shot. Steadies himself before slotting red to right centre. Lovely stuff there.
HIGGINS 0-1 XIAO (0-22)
Another safety error by Higgins is pounced upon by Xiao. John misses a red thin and Xiao drops in long red, but he misses thin cut on a black seconds later. So no heavy break this time. But Higgins sets up Xiao with another poor miss on a red. Not really arrived in this match as yet.
HIGGINS 0-0 XIAO (1-111)
No need to bother with the black when you have pieced together 111. Supreme stuff from Xiao to lead 1-0 in race to six.
HIGGINS 0-0 XIAO (1-91)
Looks like this could be a century from Xiao straight off the bat. This is what you call making a fast start.
HIGGINS 0-0 XIAO (1-63)
Break goes beyond the 50-mark as he runs around two cushions for pink. In goes pink and this is going to be a quick kill from the Wuhan Open holder. Higgins left to contemplate an opponent who is clearly in fine fettle.
HIGGINS 0-0 XIAO (1-48)
Not sure John will get another look at a ball in this frame the way Xiao is taking out this break. Very precise in his work from close range. Cue ball on a piece of string.
HIGGINS 0-0 XIAO (1-26)
An almighty fluke on a red by John early on after missing a long red by miles, but Xiao gets first chance to score seconds later as he prods home from distance. Lovely shot then to continue break with red slotted and off two cushions to come back up for blue. Black off spot at moment. Nudges in pink to right middle with a fine cut. Looks very assured.
HIGGINS 0-0 XIAO (0-0)
Almost ready to get the boys on baize on this fabulous Friday at the Players Championship in Telford. Two matches today: the final quarter-final between John Higgins and Xiao Guodong and the first semi-final between Neil Robertson and Kyren Wilson.
The winner of today's last-eight match will take on Judd Trump in the second semi-final on Saturday night. All on the table today then heading into the weekend. Higgins 3-1 clear on the career head-to-heads.
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Good afternoon and welcome to our live updates from the Players Championship.
Today, we have quarter-final play with John Higgins in afternoon action before fellow former world champions Neil Robertson and Kyren Wilson face off in the evening session in the first semi-final as the chase for the ÂŁ150,000 first prize heats up in Telford.
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Watch and stream top snooker action, including the World Championship, live and on demand on TNT Sports and discovery+
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