Higgins one frame away but lets marathon with Xiao go to another session

Four-time champion won two frames in a row after the mid-session interval but was frustrated by Xiao with the winning post in sight

OH NO: John Higgins after missing a shot during his match agains Xiao Guodong during day eight of the Halo World Snooker Championship at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield. Pic: PA Wire

Four-time champion John Higgins is one frame away from booking his place in the quarter-finals of the World Snooker Championship after his marathon clash against Xiao Guodong could not be decided inside three sessions.

Facing a race against time to complete the match before the afternoon action commenced, Higgins won two frames in a row after the mid-session interval but was frustrated by Xiao with the winning post in sight, as the Chinese star battled back to make it 12-11 just over four hours after the session began.