Higgins continues quest at Grand Prix

Thursday, 26 October 2006 21:21

Defending champion John Higgins continues his quest to win back to back Grand Prix titles this afternoon.

The Wizard of Wishaw, also winner of the Masters title last term, locks horns with Welshman Matthew Stevens at the Royal London Watches Grand Prix.

And victory for the gutsy Scot would take him a big step closing towards defending his cherished crown at the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre.

But Higgins knows just how dangerous former World Championship runner-up Stevens can be, and this week the Carmarthen cueman impressed in the best-of-five frame round robin format.

Fellow Scot Alan McManus, a good friend of Higgins and who beat him in the group stages, plays in the evening session of matches with both players looking to fly the flag on home turf as the tournament hots up.

Last season's Masters semi-finalist McManus faces Leicester's Mark Selby, while last season's Welsh Open winner Stephen Lee will do battle with Romford left-hander Mark King.

And in the other last-16 match to be staged, Welshman Ryan Day tackles Lancastrian left-hander Ian McCulloch, a former Grand Prix runner-up when the Grand Prix used to be stage at the Preston Guild Hall.

Already through to the quarter-finals are Ronnie O'Sullivan, last season's Grand Prix runner-up, Stoke qualifier Jamie Cope, Cambridgeshire's Joe Perry and Aussie ace Neil Robertson.

Today's order of play (Best of nine frames):

1.30pm
M Stevens (Wal) v J Higgins (Sco)
R Day (Wal) v I McCulloch (Eng)

7.00pm
A McManus (Sco) v M Selby (Eng)
S Lee (Eng) v M King (Eng)