Higgins close to final berth

JOHN HIGGINS was hoping to avoid another nail-biting finish as he resumed his semi-final against Mark Allen in the Betfred.com snooker World Championship today.

The 33-year-old Scot, contesting his sixth Crucible semi-final and looking to win his third title, carried a 15-9 lead into the concluding session of his clash with Allen.

Northern Irishman Allen is ten years Higgins' junior but showed commendable fighting spirit last night, pulling back from 13-3 behind to avoid making an embarrassing exit with a session to spare.

Allen won the final three frames of the evening to put a better gloss on the score and at the very least delay Higgins' charge to the final.