Snooker: Higgins survives major scare

LONDON: John Higgins’ defence of the UK Championship got off to a shaky start in the face of a stiff challenge from England’s Rory McLeod in the first round. After a see-saw battle, Higgins eventually claimed the deciding frame to win the best-of-11 match 6-5. The Scot’s next opponent is Stephen Maguire, who defeated Stephen Hendry 6-3 in the corresponding first round fixture. In other matches, two-time winner Ding Junhui edged out England’s Mark Davis 6-5, Neil Robertson, the 2010 champion, brushed aside Tom Ford 6-1 and Graeme Dott also eased past Matthew Selt by the same scoreline.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 5^th, 2011.