John Higgins got here agonisingly near turning into the primary snooker participant to compile a 167 break because the World Masters match obtained beneath approach in Saudi Arabia.
Higgins potted all 15 reds and blacks however ran out of place on the yellow in the primary body of his second-round match in opposition to Mark Williams. If he had accomplished the standard 147 most, Higgins would have had the chance to pot the 20-point “golden ball” and win a £395,000 money prize.
The golden ball, launched for the inaugural version of the match in Riyadh, sits on the baulk cushion for so long as a most break is feasible. Higgins appeared on target to take a shot at it, sinking a tough closing crimson alongside the aspect cushion and getting in place to tackle the fifteenth black after which the colors.
Perhaps distracted by spectators strolling across the area earlier than his pivotal shot, the four-times world champion misjudged his place on the yellow, operating too near the item ball and finally lacking a really powerful pot to maintain the break going.
Higgins went on to finish a 4-2 win over Williams at virtually 2.30am native time, however the golden ball likelihood was nonetheless on his thoughts after the match. “Mark said [even] his palms were sweating,” the 48-year-old stated. “I was gone. I was just thinking happy thoughts. This would have been a little bit different.”
The Scot started Monday with a 4-0 win over Saudi participant Omar Alajlani in the preliminary spherical, whereas Ding Junhui beat Qatar’s Ali Alobaidli earlier than shedding 4-3 to Ali Carter in the following spherical.
Higgins will face Ronnie O’Sullivan in Tuesday’s quarter-finals whereas Carter takes on the reigning world champion, Luca Brecel. In the opposite last-eight matches, Mark Allen faces Mark Selby and Judd Trump takes on Shaun Murphy.
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