Higgins storms into quarter finals

John Higgins almost capped off a superb display with a 147 clearance today as he eased into the quarter-finals of the Embassy World Championship at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre.

The ‘Wizard of Wishaw’ manoeuvred the cue ball around expertly in the second frame of the session before misjudging a shot on the 14th black.

But the missed chance did not affect Higgins’ concentration, and he went on to register an emphatic 13-2 win over fellow Scot Graeme Dott.

The 26-year-old, yet again, made a flying start and a break of 90 clinched him the opening frame of the session for a 9-0 lead.

Higgins was clearly disappointed not to have registered the fifth maximum in world championship history, but a break of 105 was more than enough to move him within three frames of victory.

Dott, who has endured an emotionally draining week following the death of May Lambie - wife of manager Alex and the mother of his girlfriend - finally won his first frame of the match in the 11th.

The 24-year-old was relieved to have broken his duck and immediately turned and waved to the crowd.

Higgins, helped by breaks of 78 and 112, then moved within one of victory before Dott pulled another frame back.

Higgins finished with an 84 break to set up a last-eight clash with Matthew Stevens.

He said: ‘‘I played some great snooker; I’m really delighted with the way I played.

‘‘I don’t feel like I’ve won two matches because it’s been easy. But I know the standards are going to get difficult now, especially playing Matthew.

‘‘I knew I would be playing him now. I knew he would get through, and this is the start of the tournament for me.’’

Dott heaped praise on Higgins and said: ‘‘John’s performance was unbelievable. I just could not compete with that - he was too good for me.’’