Welsh Open: John Higgins powers into quarter-final with last-frame decider win over Matthew Selt

John Higgins into World Championships semi-final

John Higgins fought back to beat Matthew Selt in a last-frame decider and reach the quarter-finals of the Welsh Open in Llandudno.

The veteran Scot, a five-time winner of the event, had trailed 3-1 but clawed his way back to level in the sixth frame with a break of 62.

Selt then missed a yellow when looking well set on the colours, which allowed Higgins back to the table to clinch the decider 55-41.

World champion Luca Brecel made three successive half-century breaks as he came from behind to beat Tom Ford 4-1 and continue his upturn in form, while Dominic Dale had little trouble as he defeated fellow Welshman Jak Jones 4-0.

Gary Wilson coasted past title holder Robert Milkins 4-0 and will next play Anthony McGill, who edged out Ricky Walden in a last-frame decider.

World number three Mark Allen impressed in his own whitewash win against Robbie Williams. The Northern Irishman made breaks of 50 and 110 – a 31st century of the season – and will go on to play Higgins in the last eight.

England’s Martin O’Donnell claimed a 4-2 victory over Marco Fu to book a match with the world champion.

After a break of 129 in the first frame, it took seven frames for Elliot Slessor to defeat China’s Fan Zhengyi with the Englishman meeting Welshman Dominic Dale in the next round.

Earlier in the third-round matches during Thursday afternoon’s session at Venue Cymru, Brecel beat Scotland’s Graeme Dott 4-1 which was also the result as Fan Zhengyi ended the run of Ireland’s Aaron Hill, who had knocked out four-time world champion Mark Selby in the second round.

Martin O’Donnell defeated Anthony Hamilton and Dale saw off Stan Moody, while three half-century runs helped Ford beat Barry Hawkins and Elliot Slessor won his match against Dylan Emery 4-1.

Jones had recorded a 4-2 victory against Hossein Vafaei while Marco Fu beat Daniel Wells by the same scoreline, hitting breaks of 122 and 113.