World Grand Prix Snooker: John Higgins stuns Kyren Wilson to move into quarter-finals, breaks Ronnie O'Sullivan record
ByOli Gent
Updated 06/03/2025 at 17:13 GMT
John Higgins produced a superb display to knock out Kyren Wilson and progress into the last eight of the World Grand Prix in Kowloon City, Hong Kong. Higgins, the 15th seed, played some stunning snooker to oust the second seed out at the second hurdle, and he did so with two century breaks, including a 143 in the second frame. Elsewhere, Stuart Bingham overcame Wu Yize, who also hit two centuries.
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Video credit: TNT Sports
John Higgins hit two centuries as he shocked Kyren Wilson to move into the quarter-finals of the 2025 World Grand Prix in Kowloon City, Hong Kong.
The Scot, the 15th seed at the tournament, knocked out the No. 2 seed in some style, even notching a 143 in the second frame to take an impressive 4-2 victory.
Higgins took the momentum from his recent World Open title to produce a superb fightback from 2-1 down, levelling proceedings with an unanswered 74 before stepping on the gas.
A 72 break was what was needed to edge his nose in front, and he sealed the deal with another stunning century to move into the last eight, where he will face the winner of Shaun Murphy and Barry Hawkins on Friday.
He told WST: "He's beginning to have that aura around the table.
"He reminds me so much of a young John Parrott, but a better version. I'm not being disrespectful to John, who was an unbelievable player as well.
"But he just hits the ball with such authority and he really believes he's going to pot everything on that table, so it's daunting to play. My game has to be at the top to beat someone like that."
Additionally, Higgins broke Ronnie O'Sullivan's record of ranking quarter-final appearances, with the 'Wizard of Wishaw' into the 147th of his career.
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Elsewhere, Stuart Bingham did enough to secure his place in the next round., beating Wu Yize by the same scoreline.
However, things weren't all plain-sailing for the 28th seed, with Wu, the 13th seed in Hong Kong, bringing up two century breaks himself during the contest.
Bingham, the 2015 world champion, had to come from two frames down - where Wu had hit sensational 129 and 120 breaks - to land a 4-2 victory, and he managed to turn the tables in impressive fashion, hitting a 108 to go 3-2 up, before closing out the affair with a final 50 to tee up an encounter with Mark Selby or Jimmy Robertson in the next round.
Top seed Judd Trump is automatically into the quarter-finals after his opponent Jack Lisowski handed him a walkover after pulling out of the tournament for personal reasons.
Mark Selby progressed to his 100th ranking quarter-final following a 4-2 victory over Jimmy Robertson at the World Grand Prix.
The reigning Welsh Open champion will face Stuart Bingham in the last eight on Friday after his win over Yize Wu.
Selby began the match in rampant fashion with a break of 102 to seize the early initiative, before Robertson levelled the scores with his own impressive break of 86.
The Jester was back in front following a much cagier third frame, but Robertson hit back with a break of 67 to restore parity once again.
But Robertson faded from that point onwards, as the world No.3 took the following two frames - including a break of 74 in the fifth - to advance.
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