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Higgins battles back to beat Hawkins

John Higgins needed to dig deep to beat Barry Hawkins © Getty Images

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John Higgins showed all the hallmarks of a champion by battling back to beat Barry Hawkins 10-6 to reach the second round of the World Championship.

Higgins trailed 5-3 at one stage, as breaks of 50, 69, and 51 gave Hawkins some momentum in the morning, but he showed his qualities in the evening session by running through the first four frames to take an 8-5 lead.

The defending champion signalled his intent with a 121 in the 10th frame and followed it up with a 67. Hawkins stopped the rot in the 14th frame, but he was given a helping hand by Higgins who left a brown in the jaws with the frame at his mercy.

The Scot responded in typical fashion with a 114 clearance to the blue to move within one frame of victory and he wrapped up the match despite needing two bites at the cherry in the 16th frame.

Mark Selby produced some quality snooker to secure a 6-3 lead over former world champion Ken Doherty.

Doherty took the opening frame, but Masters champion Selby hit back with a 103 in the second and a 106 in the fourth levelled it up after the Irishman had taken the third. Breaks of 90 and 60 handed Selby a two-frame lead and a superb 70 break saw him take a 6-3 lead into the second session.

Northern Ireland's Mark Allen is on the cusp of a place in the second round at the Crucible as he cruised to an 8-1 lead over Tom Ford, narrowly missing out on a fabulous 147 in the process.

Seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry has a battle on his hands as he holds a 5-4 lead over Anda Zhang. Hendry led 5-3 and looked well placed to secure a three-frame cushion, but he broke down when well placed and a break of 46 was enough for Zhang to cut the deficit to one overnight. Joe Perry is well placed to move into round two after racing into a 7-2 lead over Michael Holt.

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