Snooker: Quarter-final exit for Higgins in China

World no 1 John Higgins was knocked out of the China Open at the quarter-final stage yesterday, falling to former world champion Shaun Murphy.

Higgins, the current UK and Welsh Open champion, was unconvincing in beating Ricky Walden in the previous round and finally ran out of form against Murphy.

The Scot managed only one contribution over 50, while his opponent passed the half-century mark in every one of the frames he won in a 5-2 victory.