Snooker: Higgins rides his pot luck

LUCK gave a helping hand to John Higgins in Plymouth yesterday afternoon to help him reach the semi-finals of the British Open.

World No 2 Higgins came from 2-0 and 4-3 down to beat Bristol underdog Gary Ponting 5-4, but the 22-year-old Scot needed a timely fluke in the deciding frame to start a match-winning clearance of 101.

"Gary played better today than he did when he beat me 9-4 in the UK Championship earlier this season," said Higgins. "I didn't really rate him too highly then but I've certainly changed my opinion now.

Higgins now meets title holder Mark Williams or Ronnie O'Sullivan in his ninth semi-final of the campaign while Ponting, the world No 85, is left to wonder what might have been.