World Snooker Championship: John Higgins and Xiao Guodong set for late finish to last-16 tie

The World Championship last-16 tie between John Higgins and Xiao Guodong is set for a dramatic late-night finish with the Scot needing one more frame to reach the quarter-finals.

Only seven of a potential nine frames could be completed in time before the afternoon session was scheduled to begin at 14:30 BST with Higgins leading 12-11 in the first-to-13 match.

Higgins had a glorious chance to wrap up the tie as he led 53-33 in the 23rd frame but missed a black off the spot before Xiao kept his tournament hopes alive.

That means they will have to play to a finish later on Saturday, resuming on the first available table after the scheduled evening matches have taken place.

After yesterday’s second session the match was tied at 8-8 and Xiao, ranked 14th in the world, made a break of 76 to move 9-8 ahead, only for four-time champion Higgins to respond by taking the next two frames to nudge in front at 10-9.

But the 20th frame lasted more than 62 minutes, with Higgins unable to convert a 46-25 lead before Xiao finally produced a fine pot on the pink to take a hard-fought frame.

Higgins responded well with a break of 84 and then took the 22nd frame to move one away from victory.

But after Higgins’ missed black in frame 23, Xiao held his nerve with a run of 36 to stay in the tournament and force the tie into a late finish.

Higgins, 49, has won the Crucible title four times, lost in four further finals, gone out in the semi-finals on three occasions and fallen at the last-eight hurdle seven times, including the past two seasons.