LONDON: Former champion John Higgins beat Hong Kong's Marco Fu 6-4 to reach the quarter-finals of the Wembley Masters on Tuesday.

In a match of fluctuating fortunes Higgins, who won this title in 1999 and 2006 went 2-0 up, taking the second frame with a tournament high-break so far of 140.

But Fu, bidding to become the first non-British winner of this tournament since Canada's Cliff Thorburn in 1986, fought back to level at 2-2, winning the fourth frame on a re-spotted black after Higgins had been one pot away from going 3-1 up.

When the match resumed Fu, the world number 14, went ahead for the first time and then extended his lead to 4-2 with a break of 77 in the sixth frame.

But he failed to make the most of a fluked red, his break ending on 40 and Higgins' contribution of 59 reduced Fu's lead to 4-3.

Former world champion Higgins then squared the match at 4-4 with a 69 break before the Scot won a ninth frame which could have gone either way.

Fu, who had to win the tenth to stay in the match, was first in during the next frame but Higgins recovered only for the world number five to miss a pink which stayed in the jaws of the pocket.

Fortunately for Higgins, Fu was snookered by the black.

The 'Wizard of Wishaw' then moved to the brink of victory with a fine pink and then, needing the black for frame and match, he saw his shot bounce out of the jaws, roll along the bottom cushion and go into the opposite pocket as the contest ended with a spectacular fluke.

Higgins now faces China's Ding Junhui, a first round winner over UK champion Shaun Murphy, in the quarter-finals. - AFP/de