Wizard of Wishaw works some magic for 4-0 win
Last season’s Masters and Grand Prix winner last won a match at the UK Championship in December.
But the gifted Scot ended that three-month drought with a 4-0 whitewash of Dubliner Michael Judge match at this year’s £13,500 event.
The Wishaw potter was beaten 4-2 by Northern Ireland’s Gerard Greene in his first best-of-seven frame group match, so needed to win his final qualifying group match 4-0 in order to progress.
And the provisional world number three did exactly that with breaks of 135, 73 and 56, although at 2-0 up he looked to be on the verge of conceding what would have proved to be a killer frame.
But the battling Scot dug deep to down Dubliner Michael Judge 4-0 to secure his place in the next phase today alongside fellow Scots Stephen Hendry and Graeme Dott.
Higgins reached the semi-finals of the UK Championship before Christmas, but since then has failed to make an impressive at any of the following three tournaments.
Understandably, victory has given the former world champion plenty of much-needed confidence.
“I started well and had a good break, but that’s my first win this year, so I’ve got to be happy. It’s nice to be in the quarters.”
Also through to this year’s quarter-finals is Barry Hawkins.
The left-hander defeated local favourite David Morris 4-3 earlier in the day and then proved too strong for golden oldie Jimmy White, a 4-2 winner to maintain his 100% record on Irish soil.
Both Higgins and Hawkins join seeded players Stephen Hendry, Ronnie O’Sullivan, Graeme Dott and Ken Doherty in the last eight.
Dubliner Fergal O’Brien upset Australian Neil Robertson to secure his place in the quarters. The 1999 British Open winner pocketed breaks of 79 and 66 en route to a 4-1 win over this season’s Welsh Open and Royal London Watches Grand Prix winner.
And having earlier in the day beaten Stephen Lee 4-2, the Irishman kept his unbeaten run going to progress to the next round.
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