John Higgins books semi-final spot after beating Graeme Dott in quarters: 2012 Masters
Reigning World Snooker Champion, Scotland’s John Higgins has successfully made his way into the semi-final stage of the 2012 Masters Snooker tournament. The Scotsman cruised into the penultimate stage of the tournament after edging past former World Snooker
Championship finalist, Graeme Dott by the score line of 6-3 in the quarter-finals at the Alexandra Palace in Stock.
The match was an easy encounter for the champ as he played outstandingly well during the quarter-final. The World Number three was stunning at the baize and completely unsettled his opponent with some classy potting. Dott, on the other hand, had no chance
to capitalise against the lead of Higgins and tumbled three frames down at the end of the match.
The first session of the match was a tussling one as both potters played neck and neck. In the initial scrappy frame, Higgins lost the set despite a superb knock of 60 points. Dott was steady during the competition and was able to claim the first frame win
60-62, with the help of some small breaks to lead 0-1 in the match. The Magician, Higgins, made a comeback to pull level at 1-1.
The Wizard of Wishaw also managed to finish the third frame 65-36 after pocketing a half-century clearance of 52 points to move one frame up at 2-1. Dott did not want to trail behind Higgins so he equalised the scores 2-2, winning the fourth frame 14-67.
At the end of the fifth scrappy set, Higgins was leading again 3-2, as he cruised into the fifth frame victory by 109-5 with the help of a 75-point cracking break.
The former UK Championship winner extended his overall lead to 5-2 ensuing back-to-back frame wins by 71-5 and 109-18 after firing two impressive knocks of 64 and 109. This extension in Higgins’ lead put Dott under immense pressure as he moved one frame
up at 5-3.
The Wishaw potter swept the table in one visit and clinched the ninth frame by 89-0 with a fine clearance of 89 points to book a semi-final berth. The 36-year-old will next face the winner of the quarter-final match between England’s Shaun Murphy and Mark
Selby.
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