Higgins Holds Off Williams Fightback At Tour Championship

Defending champion John Higgins held disconnected a fightback from Mark Williams to triumph 10-8 successful nan first information of nan Tour Championship successful Manchester.

Four-time world champion Higgins sewage disconnected to a slow commencement arsenic world number 4 Williams won nan first 2 frames, which included a break of 121.

The shortage sparked Higgins into life, pinch nan 50-year-old Scotsman winning nan adjacent 7 frames to return power of nan match.

Williams, 51, clawed 4 frames backmost to way 7-6, earlier a break of 110 saw Higgins regain a two-frame cushion.

Breaks of 107 and 76 saw Williams conflict backmost again to level nan necktie astatine 8-8, but nan Welshman could not prolong his momentum arsenic Higgins won nan adjacent 2 frames to book his spot successful nan last-eight.

Higgins' triumph sets up a quarter-final necktie against Mark Selby, who received a bye successful nan first round.

Elsewhere, Barry Hawkins hit in-form Thepchaiya Un-Nooh 10-8 to group up a quarter-final against Neil Robertson.

Un-Nooh earned his spot astatine nan Tour Championship pursuing his stunning triumph complete Ronnie O'Sullivan successful nan World Open final earlier this month.

Chris Wakelin defeated Wu Yize 10-6 and will look Zhao Xintong successful nan last-eight.