John Higgins shattered fellow Scot Stephen Maguire’s hopes of a first 888.com World Championship final appearance as he produced a stunning comeback to triumph 17-15 in Sheffield.

Last year’s runner-up Ian McCulloch was sent crashing out of the Grand Prix in Preston tonight after defeat at the hands of an in-form John Higgins.

John Higgins today took the first step towards fulfilling the prophecy of a nightclub clairvoyant who told him he would meet Ronnie O’Sullivan in this year’s Embassy World Championship final.