John Higgins staged a remarkable comeback to defeat Mark Selby 10-8, securing his position in the semifinals of the Tour Championship in Manchester. With this victory, Higgins repeats his success from last year’s final, where he also emerged triumphant over Selby.
Match Overview
Higgins began the match strong but found himself trailing 8-5 after Selby put together impressive breaks of 127 and 131. Selby, a fellow four-time world champion, had dominated five consecutive frames.
However, Higgins, 50, demonstrated his resilience and skill under pressure. He quickly regained his form, achieving breaks of 56, 92, 74, 78, and 72. His performance not only secured the win but also set up a semifinal clash against current world champion Zhao Xintong.
Upcoming Semifinals
The semifinal between Higgins and Zhao is scheduled for Saturday at 13:00 BST.
Zhao Xintong’s Dominance
- Zhao Xintong made a statement in his quarterfinal by defeating Chris Wakelin 10-4.
- He recorded breaks of 103, 93, and 120, establishing a strong lead after the first session.
- Continuing his momentum, he secured the win with subsequent breaks of 134, 108, 50, and 101.
Neil Robertson Advances
Australia’s Neil Robertson also advanced to the semifinals, achieving a hard-fought 10-8 victory over Barry Hawkins. Robertson, who previously won the tournament in 2021 and 2022, faced challenges as he trailed 7-5.
Despite the setback, he rallied to win five out of the last six frames. He attributed his success to the need for resilience, especially in preparation for the upcoming World Championship.
Upcoming Matches
Robertson’s next challenge is against world number one Judd Trump, set to start at 13:00 BST on Friday.
Both Higgins and Robertson will need to capitalize on their current forms as they head into the semifinals of this prestigious tournament.
