World number one Judd Trump beat John Higgins in dramatic fashion at the UK Championship, producing a nerveless century in the deciding frame of their last-16 clash in York to win 6-5.
Higgins looked to be firmly in control of the decider, 34 points ahead with both players engaged in a protracted safety battle which involved a series of roll-ups into the pack of reds.
However, Higgins blinked first, a loose safety shot offering Trump sight of a pot to the centre pocket which he gleefully accepted, before going on to compile a high-class break of 106 which proved a fitting finale to an absorbing joust.
For Higgins, it proved to be another stinging, close defeat in a high-profile match, one he will feel he should've won having at one stage led 4-3 and then produced a fine run of 66 in frame 10 to take the match the distance.
In truth, the crowd were treated to some trademark Higgins for most of the match, the veteran Scot pinching the first frame on the final black with a wonderful clearance, and then again coming from behind to take out frame four and level at 2-2.
It was nip and tuck for most of the afternoon, but Trump, as has now become his custom, stood tall when it mattered most, suggesting his wait for a second UK Championship title might soon be over.
🌎 World number 1 Judd Trump beats John Higgins in the deciding frame#VPUKChampionship pic.twitter.com/v66jL9Pp1P
— Eurosport (@eurosport) November 28, 2024
"In the first four frames, we just showed a lot of respect for each other, didn’t want to give easy chances," Trump told BBC Sport.
"After (the interval) I just tried to make it a bit more attacking, a bit more free flowing and I think we both benefited from that in the end.
"The game was just too slow and I just want to speed it up.
"After I get into the game, I just feel like I can relax and let go, and that is when I play my best."
Trump may be many people’s tip to go on and win the triple crown event once again, but the 2019 world champion is taking things as they come.
"I haven’t played my best so far," he said.
"It is nice to do it when it really matters, like in the last frame, it was a great break and I was in perfect position the whole time.
"So probably when the real pressure is on, that is probably when I produce my best stuff. (I am) a long way (off that) at the moment.
"There are a lot of players who are playing good stuff, I am not one of them, but I am still in the event, so I still have time to improve."
Zhang comeback floors Bingham
On the other table, Zhang Anda completed a superb fightback to beat Stuart Bingham
Bingham had seemed in complete control as he opened up a 5-1 lead.
In the fifth frame, Bingham was set for a 147 chance, but missed the black after a 14th red as his break finished on 105.
Zhang, who made a maximum in his first round win over Lei Peifan, started what looked an unlikely recovery with a break of 81 to take the seventh frame.
The world number 11, though, continued to build momentum, as breaks of 70 and 108 saw him pull level.
From being so dominant, Bingham’s cueing deserted him as Zhang battled through the deciding frame 73-29 to take his place in the quarter-final line-up against Trump.
Zhang Anda came from 1-5 down to beat Stuart Bingham to progress through to the next round of the #VPUKChampionship pic.twitter.com/e0CdMAEDdV
— Eurosport (@eurosport) November 28, 2024
Wilson too strong for Wakelin
In the evening session at the Barbican, world champion Kyren Wilson moved into the last eight with a 6-2 win over Chris Wakelin.
Having opened with a break of 85, Wilson then took the third frame with a fine century.
Wakelin looked set to level the match again when coming from behind to lead 54-49 – only to miss the black, which Wilson cut in with the rest to go 3-1 ahead at the interval.
After Wakelin let another winning position slip in the seventh frame on the back of a break of 52, Wilson came from behind to move one frame away and then dug in to close out the next 74-30.
Jones had raced into a 2-0 lead, but Holt crafted a break of 101 and then fought back after being left needing a snooker to take the fourth frame 79-72 on a re-spotted black – which he doubled into the middle pocket.
A three-frame burst following the interval put Jones on the cusp, before an in-off when potting the green handed Holt a chance to clear up and snatch the eighth frame.
After the Welshman failed to get over the line when set at the table, Holt – who came through four qualifying rounds to make the main draw – responded again with a break of 86.
Another half-century break saw Holt force the decider – which he took after coming from behind to make a run of 86 and reach the last eight of the UK Championship for the first time since 1999.
