John Higgins reeled off three straight frames as he came from behind to earn a 6-5 semi-final victory over Judd Trump in the Masters at Alexandra Palace.
Things were looking ominous for the Scot early on as Trump ensured he took a three-frame lead with a neat break of 60, which ended with Higgins conceding. Higgins gave Trump something to think about before the mid-session interval by clawing it back to 3-2, including a century break, but breaks of 70 and 57 by the world No 1 helped him move to within a frame of victory at 5-3.
Higgins fought back for a second time and brought it back to 5-5 before his break of 70 in the decider meant Trump is still without a tournament win this season.
Higgins, who at the age of 50 becomes the oldest triple crown finalist, told BBC Sport: “He is so tough to play against. I missed a couple of reds to put myself safe and then he did what he always does which is clear up.
“Even at 5-3, I didn’t give up. It was the same against Zhao Xintong. Who knows, maybe my name is on the trophy? You just don’t know.
“I think I’m a better player now than I’ve ever been. You play these great champions like Judd and I’ve lost the last few against him.”
Higgins will face Kyren Wilson, who also battled through a last-frame decider, to beat China’s Wu Yize 6-5.
Wu trailed 4-2 but breaks of 75, 87 and 81 put the 22-year-old 5-4 up and one frame from the final. But a nerveless clearance of 57 hauled Wilson level and the world No 2 got over the line with the first century of the match, a composed break of 116.
“I wasn’t at the races at all today,” last year’s runner-up told the BBC. “I don’t know where I got those last two frames from. Sometimes the snooker gods are on your side and you’ve just got to make the most of it.”
