In a stunning display of resilience and class, snooker legend John Higgins staged a remarkable comeback to defeat Mark Selby 10-8 and book his spot in the Tour Championship semi-finals in Manchester. The 'Wizard of Wishaw' found himself trailing 8-5, staring down the barrel of defeat against the formidable Selby, but summoned a vintage performance when it mattered most.

The match was a thrilling echo of last year's final, which Higgins also won. After taking the opening session, Higgins watched as Selby, a fellow four-time world champion, found his rhythm with majestic breaks of 127 and 131 to win five frames on the spin. With his back against the wall, the 50-year-old Scot showcased the mental fortitude and precision that has defined his career.

Refusing to yield, Higgins clicked into gear with a series of powerful, match-winning contributions. He reeled off five consecutive frames himself, crafting breaks of 56, 92, 74, 78, and 72 to turn the match on its head. While Selby had some unfortunate luck with the run of the balls, Higgins was clinical, proving that experience and composure are priceless assets in high-stakes snooker.

"I was delighted the way I dug in," Higgins said after the match, highlighting the grit required for such a fightback. His reward is a semi-final clash on Saturday with the explosive world champion, Zhao Xintong.

Zhao earned his place in emphatic fashion, sweeping past Chris Wakelin 10-4. The Chinese star, who celebrates his 29th birthday on Friday, was in blistering form, firing in breaks of 103, 93, 120, 134, 108, and 101. His performance sets up a tantalizing semi-final: the relentless, tactical prowess of Higgins against the fearless, break-building power of Zhao.

In the other half of the draw, Australia's Neil Robertson also advanced, securing a hard-fought 10-8 victory over Barry Hawkins. The 2021 and 2022 champion will now face world number one Judd Trump in what promises to be another epic semi-final showdown on Friday.