Match Reports from the 888.com World Snooker Championship
Mediocre Higgins !
John Higgins 6 - 3 Michael Holt
A below par John Higgins came from behind to lead in a tense match against Michael Holt.
The 1998 world champion threatened to make a 147 in the final frame, but missed on the 14th red. Despite the stylish 104 finish, it could not disguise the fact that the Wizard of Wishaw was not his magic best.
Both players began slowly, but it was qualifier Michael Holt who had the best of the opening exchanges. The 28-year-old’s clearance of 82 put him 2-0 up, and he was in charge of the third frame only for the wily Higgins to pinch it.
The match was played at a slow pace, and Higgins won a scrappy fourth frame to go in at the break all square. Holt went one clear with a 65 in the fifth, but Higgins pegged him back with another tight frame to make it 3-3.
The Scot regained some of his touch after that, and took the remaining three frames to put him firmly in control.
Shot of the day: With the scores locked at 7-7, Stephen Hendry desperately needed to get out of a snooker created by his own wayward pot. The reds were spread but his three-cushion escape threaded through the maze to rest gently on the brown. He won the frame and did not look back.
By David Pritchard
