Record-breaking Higgins into World Grand Prix quarters after Wilson win
Higgins is through to his 147th ranking quarter-final (Every Second Media/Alamy Live News)
John Higgins is through to a record-breaking 147th ranking quarter-final after defeating Kyren Wilson 4-2 at the World Grand Prix on Thursday.
The Wizard edged ahead of Ronnie O’Sullivan on the all-time list following another impressive scoring display against the reigning World champion in Hong Kong.
Both players came flying out of the blocks at the Kai Tak Arena, as Higgins answered Wilson’s 131 with a 143 total clearance to level.
The Warrior was looking to remain on course for a fourth ranking title of the season and regained the lead with a break of 72.
However, Wilson could only hang his towel off the tip of his cue in a humorous sign of surrender, as Higgins reeled off the next three frames to sprint over the line with runs of 74, 92 and 100.
Next up for the four-time World champion is Masters winner Shaun Murphy, who overcame UK Championship and German Masters finalist Barry Hawkins 4-1.
Meanwhile, Mark Selby is into the 100th ranking event quarter-final of his career.
The Jester hit breaks of 102 and 74 in a 4-2 win over Jimmy Robertson. He will now play Stuart Bingham in another last-eight showdown between two former World champions.
Ballrun found himself 2-0 down against English and Scottish Open runner-up Wu Yize, who opened with breaks of 129 and 120, but reeled off the next four frames, with runs of 80, 108 and 50 along the way.
Xiao Guodong edged out compatriot Lei Peifan 4-3 in a high-quality encounter.
Scottish Open champion Lei opened with 81 on the way to a 2-0 lead, but Xiao responded with back-to-back centuries of 117 and 128.
The Wuhan Open winner then snatched the fifth frame on the pink, after Lei missed the blue when in to regain the lead.
Despite being taken to a decider, Xiao produced a timely break of 128 to set up a quarter-final date with English Open champion Neil Robertson, who beat David Gilbert 4-1.
Elsewhere, Hossein Vafaei prevailed in another deciding frame. The Iranian, who was a late call-up to this tournament after Ronnie O’Sullivan’s withdrawal, edged out Xu Si on the final pink to book a last-eight clash with world number one Judd Trump.
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World Grand Prix 2025 Results
Thursday March 6
Round Two
John Higgins 4-2 Kyren Wilson
Stuart Bingham 4-2 Wu Yize
David Gilbert 1-4 Neil Robertson
Hossein Vafaei 4-3 Xu Si
Barry Hawkins 1-4 Shaun Murphy
Jimmy Robertson 2-4 Mark Selby
Xiao Guodong 4-3 Lei Peifan