Higgins Reaches Six Red Semis

John Higgins defeated David Gilbert 6-4 to reach the last four of the SangSom Six Red World Championship in Bangkok.

The last time the pair met was in a dramatic Crucible semi-final back in May, when 30-time ranking event winner Higgins battled back to take a nerve shredding final frame decider and win 17-16.

On this occasion it was Gilbert who surged back into contention. He had trailed Higgins 5-2, before winning two on the bounce to close the gap to one. However, Higgins edged over the line on the colours in a hard fought tenth frame to progress 6-4.

Higgins is aiming for a maiden Six Red world title this week, but he will now have to overcome the 2017 winner of the event Mark Williams in the last four if he is to keep his bid alive.

Williams, who beat Thepchaiya Un-Nooh 8-2 in the final two years ago, defeated six-time ranking event winner Stuart Bingham 6-3 to ensure his progression.

Welshman Williams led the tie 4-0, having made a break of 63 in the process. Bingham responded by taking three of the next four frames, including breaks of 70 and 72, to cut his arrears and stay in touch at 5-3. However, Williams finished off the match to earn his place in the semis.

2014 Six Red World Champion Stephen Maguire secured his place in the semis with a 6-2 win over Ali Carter. Scotland’s Maguire clinched the title five years ago in Bangkok after coming through a deciding frame to beat Ricky Walden 8-7 in the final.

His opponent in the last four this year will be world number 19 Gary Wilson, who came from 5-4 down to beat Asian number one Ding Junhui 6-5.

Both semi-finals will take place tomorrow, with the final being contested on Saturday. The winner will take home a top prize of 4 million Baht.