Snooker: Davis maintains hopes of historic upset

(PA)

Steve Davis' dream of the biggest Crucible upset lives on despite a battling comeback from John Higgins, the defending champion, here yesterday.

Davis shocked Higgins in the first session of their best-of-25 frame contest in Sheffield when he established a surprise 6-2 overnight lead on Thursday. But Davis, still going strong at 52 years of age, kept himself in the hunt for a quarter-final place as he finished the day 9-7 ahead with a possible two sessions remaining today.

Davis now only requires four frames to become the oldest Crucible quarter-finalist since the Australian Eddie Charlton achieved the feat in 1983 aged 53 years and six months. Few could have predicted the way in which Davis, a six-time Crucible champion, dominated the early exchanges against an out-of-sorts Higgins. However, the three-time winner forced the issue in the second session only for Davis to hang in there and hold a two-frame advantage.

The veteran kept his opponent – 18 years his junior – frustrated with methodical play and some engaging safety play. Trademark Davis, but Higgins contributed to his own failure as he missed a string of routine shots that would have at least seen him level by the end of the day.

Higgins did win the session 5-3 to keep his own hopes of a fourth Crucible crown on track, although he cannot afford any slip-ups at the third attempt with Davis desperate to complete victory.