Big guns square up for Beijing

John Higgins and Ken Doherty set up a repeat of their recent Malta Cup title clash by marching into the semi-finals of the Star Group China Open in Beijing today.

Higgins, the bookmakers’ favourite to lift his third trophy of the season, scored a 5-2 victory over Joe Perry while Doherty, who edged the Scot 9-8 for the silverware in Malta last month, beat Stephen Lee by the same score.