JOHN Higgins booked his place in the last four of the BGC Masters with a 6-3 victory over fellow Scot Graeme Dott in London last night.
The victory set the two-time Masters champion up for a last-four clash with Mark Selby or Shaun Murphy.
Breaks of 60, 52, 75, 64, 109 and 89 did the damage for Wishaw Wizard Higgins as he reached his first major semi-final of the season in the £500,000 event.
The 36-year-old Scot, who knows two more wins will land him the £150,000 first prize, said: “Luckily for me Graeme didn’t turn up.
“I was a bit nervous and missed a chance to win 6-2 so I’m just pleased as punch to have won.
“I think Graeme lost some of his concentration at 2-2 so that could have been the turning point. I played okay but it still felt good to make that frame-winning break at 5-3.”
Higgins revealed he had practised for just four hours for snooker’s most prestigious invitational event, having taken an extended break over the Christmas period.
But the world No.3 admitted he’s feeling fresh in his quest to land a hat-trick of Masters titles.
He added: “You hope to play your way into the tournament, which is the way I’m feeling. I played some decent stuff but Graeme didn’t play anywhere near as well as he can.
“It doesn’t matter who I play in the semis, it’s going to be a really tough match for me.”
Dott mustered a top break of 47 as he crashed out with his first Masters semi-final in sight and the Larkhall potter said: “I was rubbish – pathetic to be honest.
“It was just as rubbish as last year and the year before that too. I never seem to play well in this tournament – I’ve really got no idea why I don’t do very well here.
“My cue ball was just amateurish. It didn’t matter what I did, I was just leaving myself tricky after most pots. It’s simply not good enough.”
