Higgins Makes His mark at Euro-Asia Snookers Masters Challenge

World Champion John Higgins booked his place in the semi-finals of the 110sport.com Euro-Asia Masters Challenge in Hong Kong – and in the process took a hand in ending Stephen Hendry and Ding Junhui's chances.

The Scot beat both countryman Hendry and the local favourite Ding by 2-0 to move through to the last four where he was joined from Group A by Thailand's James Wattana.

In the other section, Ireland's Ken Doherty dropped the first frame to Ronnie O'Sullivan before winning the next two. However Doherty then lost 2-1 to Marco Fu who clinched victory with a run of 123, the highest of the tournament so far.

And O'Sullivan took little time in getting back to his best as ‘The Rocket' blasted past Supoj Saenla, beating the Asian champion 2-0 with breaks of 117, 40 and 95.

Group 1
John Higgins (Sco) 2 Stephen Hendry (Sco) 0 58-34, 77(62)-7
Ding Junhui (China) 0 James Wattana (Thai) 2 48-65, 16-127(75)
Hendry 1 Wattana 2
39-84, 65-36, 34-58(52)
Higgins 2 Ding 0
65(45)-55, 55-16

Group 2
Ronnie O'Sullivan (Eng) 1 Ken Doherty (Ire) 2 90-39, 22-81(46), 58(46)-75(46)
Doherty 1 Marco Fu (HK) 2 70(52)-32, 7-88(48), 0-123(123)
O'Sullivan 2 Supoj Saenla (Thai) 0 117(117)-0, 135(40,95)-0