Higgins facing Crucible exit

John Higgins is today facing an uphill struggle to stay in the Betfair World Championship as the prospect of a major first-round upset loomed.

After Mark Williams tumbled out yesterday, four-time champion Higgins was in danger of being another big-name casualty.

He was set to resume this afternoon 6-3 adrift of Mark Davis, the man who beat him at the UK Championship in December.

Higgins, 37, has shown little form since the start of the year, but Crucible pedigree often sees him through such tests. His last three world titles came in 2007, 2009 and 2011, but the sequence of taking the title every other year was in danger of coming to an end.

Davis scored heavily yesterday, with breaks of 68, 85, 96 and 64 steering the 40-year-old Hastings man into a strong position as he looks to reach the second round for a third time.

Michael White was “over the moon” after taking out his hero and fellow Welshman Mark Williams in the first round.

The Neath potter made a century break as a nine-year-old and was the talk of his primary school, earning a place in the Guinness Book of Records.

Now, at the age of 21, he should be braced for wider acclaim after beating one of the greats of the modern game. He swept aside two-time former champion Williams in style, turning a 5-4 overnight lead into a 10-6 victory.

White said: “It means everything to me.

“I always looked up to Mark as a youngster growing up and it was a privilege to play him.

“It’s hard to take it in at the moment, but I’m over the moon, delighted.”

Hot prospect Jack Lisowski, also 21, was bundled out on his Crucible debut as he lost 10-3 to Barry Hawkins.

Lisowski said: “It was just not meant to be this year.”

This morning was due to see the conclusion of the clash between former world champions Graeme Dott and Peter Ebdon, with Dott 6-2 in front.

Ali Carter, Stephen Maguire and Mark Allen were among the players starting their campaigns today.

Last night saw the 2005 champion Shaun Murphy make an impressive start, beating Martin Gould 10-5.

Sale-based Murphy finished off a strong second session performance with breaks of 106 and 95 and said: “It was very pleasing to see the hard work I put in for this tournament came out when I needed it.”