John Higgins underlined his title credentials with a superb exhibition in his opening session against Thailand's James Wattana. The Scot, bidding to repeat his 1998 Crucible triumph, recorded the highest break of the tournament so far, a 136 which eclipsed by one the efforts of Matthew Stevens and Harold in the chase for the £20,000 top-break prize.
But that was only one of three tons for the 26-year-old 'Wishaw Wizard', who also added a trio of half-centuries as he routed the world number 32 8-1 to leave himself needing only two more frames tomorrow night.
Dubliner Fergal O'Brien trailed 5-2 but won the last two frames of the afternoon session to trail by the minimum to English qualifier Robert Milkins. This evening Milkins put it up to O'Brien as both players failed to find any real form with very few high breaks going in. The players virtually swapped frame for frame all evening and it was Milkins who had the upper hand leading by 9-7. The winner will meet Ronnie O'Sullivan in the next round.
Elsewhere, Anthony Hamilton came from behind to defeat Dave Harold 10-6 while after this afternoon's session, Alan McManus is 2-6 down to Anthony Davies and Mark Williams defeated John Parrott by 10-7.
Filed by Johnny Proby
