Andrew Higginson 6-0 Sam Craigie - An additional 42 break from Higginson puts him a ball away from victory leading by 58 with just four reds left but he decides to play safe on a risky match ball. Craigie goes for a long pot and misses and Higginson cuts one into the middle to close out a very convincing win. Have to say Higginson was very solid, didn't miss many and in all honesty did not give Craigie too many clear cut chances. He'll be very happy with that performance and could be dangerous in the next round.
Craigie had to play safe early in his break and after missing another long red soon after, Higginson is back in and now with a very good chance of completing victory.
Frame 6 - A missed long red from Craigie has Higginson straight back in, in what is the frame he needs for victory. It's not a golden chance though and he misses a tricky one early in the break. Opportunity now for Craigie who will be desperate to avoid a whitewash.
Frame Higginson - Craigie misses a blue into the corner and is unable to make his chance count. Higginson comes back in and clears the remaining reds to leave Craigie needing snookers. Higginson now is just one frame away from the last 64. 5-0 Higginson
Craigie missed the black on 23 and it could prove costly here. Higginson is in now and has the reds open nicely to fully punish him and go a frame away from victory, but now he's missed as well. Craigie back in and now has to make this count.
Frame 5 - It pretty much goes without saying that Craigie needs to keep Higginson on four frames for as long as possible. He's earned the first chance in frame five and this is probably the best chance he's had so far to put a big contribution together.
Frame Higginson - An additional 41 is enough for Higginson to take this fourth frame and take a real commanding lead. Have to say he has played very well here so far making some nice breaks and his pressure potting has been impressive. Craigie meanwhile has not had too many decent chances so cannot be too hard on himself. 4-0 Higginson
After a safety battle that opened the reds and sent the majority towards baulk it looked like one more chance for Higginson would be enough to take the frame. However, he ran out of ideal position and missed a tough red into the middle but Craigie could not capitalise. Looking like 4-0 now.
Frame 4 - Higginson was in first again in this frame after a nice long pot, and this time he made 34 before losing position. Craigie has since had a half chance but could only make 8 and really needs to win this safety battle now.
Frame Higginson - A run of 46 was enough for Higginson to leave Craigie needing snookers and after a bit of time playing on, Higginson knocks in another good long red to seal the frame. Craigie really needs to get the next one before the interval. 3-0 Higginson
Frame 3 - A slow burner at the start of frame three but Higginson is currently at the table with a decent chance. Craigie missed a tough red into the middle leaving it on the far jaw, before Higginson came off the bottom cushion to pot it and he's looking good again here.
Frame Higginson - A nice break of 71 from Higginson has left Craigie needing snookers after just 7 minutes of this second frame. Craigie played on but it wasn't to be and Higginson doubles his lead. 2-0 Higginson
Frame 2 - Straight away in the second frame Higginson is in after rolling in a lovely long red. He quickly has the pack and reds open too and this is an excellent opportunity to double his lead.
Frame Higginson - A good long red from Higginson is the key to this first frame. He lands nicely on the pink and has the colours on their spots to put the opener on the board 1-0 Higginson
Craigie pots the first of the two reds by the black but in doing so cannons the other which finishes on the side cushion. He could only drop the pink in and play safe on that red from the angle left, so it's anyone's frame as they battle on the final red.
Higginson misses a pink into the middle now and this chance has been handed over to Craigie. There are a couple of reds next to the black that may need opening up but otherwise this is a decent opportunity now.
Frame 1 - An early chance for Craigie has gone astray with a missed pink to the middle and it's a pretty good opportunity that is left now in this opener for Higginson to get the frame on the board.
Heading back into the Sports Hall this morning for a cracking little match between two players I enjoy watching.
Sam Craigie looked good last week in Belfast featuring a cracking win over Kyren Wilson in his first match with new glasses. He scored heavily to make the last 16 of the Northern Ireland Open and if he is on similar form today then Andrew Higginson will have a tough time on his hands.
Higginson has been a little quiet this season since a good run at the start of the year in Riga. Following that he did make the last 16 at the English Open and on his day can also be a very heavy scorer.
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