World Snooker Championship 2023 results: Four-time champion John Higgins powers past David Grace
- Published
John Higgins has reached three finals since winning his last world title in 2011
Cazoo World Championship |
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Venue: Crucible Theatre, Sheffield Dates: 15 April-1 May |
Coverage: Watch live on BBC TV and Red Button with uninterrupted coverage on BBC iPlayer, the BBC Sport website and the BBC Sport app |
Four-time champion John Higgins completed a commanding 10-3 win over David Grace at the World Championship in Sheffield.
Higgins picked up where he left off on Monday as he extended his 7-2 overnight lead with a wonderful break of 114.
Grace briefly interrupted the Scot - on his charge to the finishing line - with an 83, but Higgins sealed victory with stylish breaks of 97 and 124.
Higgins will now play Kyren Wilson or Ryan Day in the second round.
That best-of-25 match is scheduled to begin on Sunday at 10:00 BST.
Meanwhile, Anthony McGill produced a superb performance to take a 6-3 overnight lead against 2019 winner Judd Trump.
The Scot, 32, was described as the "grenade everyone wanted to avoid" when the first-round draw was conducted, with McGill - who reached the last four in 2020 - known for his tough matchplay and excellent temperament.
Trump, who won 13-11 in their last-16 meeting a year ago, made the perfect start, however, as he rattled off an 89 break and then capitalised on a McGill error to take the first two frames.
Runs of 77 and a brilliantly-constructed 119 drew McGill level at the interval and, while Trump regained the lead with a 53 in the next, his opponent reeled off three frames in a row with breaks of 87, 60 and 59.
A nervy final frame of the session saw both players spurn opportunities, before Trump missed a difficult brown to the top corner pocket.
It handed McGill the chance to clear the remaining colours and take a three-frame cushion into Wednesday afternoon's deciding session (14:30 BST)
Higgins delivers warning to rivals
Higgins, 47, turned professional in 1992 and has been an ever-present at the Crucible since 1995, becoming one of the modern-day greats by accumulating 31 ranking titles and nine Triple Crown successes.
And this performance against English qualifier Grace - 25 years on from his first world title - provided an ominous reminder of his capabilities after arriving in Sheffield on the back of a difficult season that has seen him slip down the world rankings to 11th.
"I'm feeling good about scoring if I get my chance, which I think you always need to do here," Higgins told BBC Sport.
"You need to have sessions here against the best players where you can go on a bit of a run and knock in some breaks and I feel capable of that this year.
"As you get older if you can do it [win] as quick and easy as possible it can only be a benefit later in the tournament."
While Grace gifted him several easy starters, Higgins' cueing looked in fine touch.
He showcased his break-building qualities with his 935th and 936th career centuries, while also making sizable contributions of 51, 98, 66, 67 and 97 over the course of the match to conclude things before Tuesday's mid-session interval.
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