Masters 2026: Fine Margins and Fortune as John Higgins Outlasts Zhao Xintong

The first round of the 2026 Masters produced one of the most bizarre coincidences in snooker history, with every match ending in a one-sided 6-2 scoreline.

But the tournament’s opening quarter-final between reigning world champion Zhao Xintong and four-time world champion John Higgins was anything but routine.

The pair were locked in a tense, high-quality battle that went all the way to a deciding frame, with momentum swinging both ways and fine margins ultimately separating them.

Fortune Favours Higgins

Higgins needed a slice of luck to stay alive in the contest, particularly in the 10th frame as he fought back from 5-3 down.

Attempting a long and risky plant, the ‘Wizard of Wishaw’ received a hugely fortunate fluke that allowed him to take control of the frame.

He capitalised with a half-century to force a decider.

Higgins was the first to admit that luck played its part in his late surge.

“When I went 5-3 behind, the next two frames I got really lucky, and that’s why I’m sitting here,” Higgins told SportsBoom.co.uk. 

Decider Drama as Zhao Blinks First

The final frame followed a similarly nerve-shredding pattern. Higgins looked set to wrap things up early but missed a red to the right corner after compiling a break of 34.

Zhao was handed a lifeline and responded with a fluent 53, but a positional error halted his progress at a critical moment. Higgins escaped a snooker, before Zhao missed a tempting long red to the top right corner.

With the pressure fully back on the Scot, Higgins held his nerve to clear the colours and seal a dramatic 6-5 victory.

When asked whether he would have attempted the difficult long red that Zhao missed, a decision some felt exposed the world champion’s relative inexperience, Higgins was candid.

“I don't think so,” on whether he would have taken on the tricky red that Zhao missed.

“I was thinking, he’ll be thinking he can pot anything here because he was in a nice flow. But he obviously went for that red, but it was a such a difficult shot.”

Semi-Final Awaiting: Trump or Allen

Higgins will now face either world number one Judd Trump or 2018 Masters champion Mark Allen in the semi-finals.

Trump has already outlined the challenges Allen presents, admitting the Northern Irishman’s style can be difficult to deal with.

“He’s a tough player. I think he’s a little bit different to the rest of the top players. I think the way he plays is maybe not as free flowing as the rest of them. He can be a little bit more tough to play,” Trump told SportsBoom. 

“Sometimes I get a little bit dragged down when I play him.”

Allen’s Evolution Under the Microscope

If Allen awaits in the semi-final, Higgins is unconcerned. While he has noticed Allen slow his game in recent years, he believes the change is a deliberate attempt to model himself on four-time world champion Mark Selby.

“He’s played a little bit slower in the last few years, but I think he's probably just tried to copy like a winner or a champion in Mark Selby.”

“He's [Allen] won these big events, so you can't knock it.”

“I know some people think he plays better when he's a little bit faster. But it's a difficult game.”

Respect for Different Paths to Success

Higgins also reflected on the contrasting styles at the top of the game, praising players capable of sustaining a fast, attacking tempo under pressure.

“You take your hat off to guys like Trump, Xintong and Ronnie who can always play at a really fast pace and win these big events, because it's tough.”

He was equally clear that percentage snooker deserves respect too.

“Mark has won these big events now. He plays maybe more of the percentage games. How can anybody have anything bad to say about that,” he concluded.