Robertson fights back to stun Higgins at Masters

Neil Robertson produced a stirring fightback from 5-1 down to beat fellow two-time champion John Higgins 6-5 and move into the quarter-finals of the Masters at Alexandra Palace.

The Australian, who was given the opportunity to compete due to Ronnie O'Sullivan's shock withdrawal on Friday, will now face Shaun Murphy, who defeated Gary Wilson 6-3.

Robertson had looked down and out but when Higgins missed an easy red to the right middle in the seventh frame it sparked a remarkable reversal of fortunes.

Higgins, making his 31st appearance in the event, was in complete control as he moved within a frame of victory with runs of 54, 78, 59, 86, 54 and 66.

However, Robertson capitalised on his reprieve and crucially found his rhythm to compile breaks of 63, 118 and 80 on his way to forcing a final-frame decider.

And while Higgins got in first with a 35, the Australian responded with a half-century of his own before completing a stunning victory.

"It was an unbelievable match. John was playing incredibly well for 5-1 and he didn't really do anything wrong," Robertson told BBC Sport.

"I played at my absolute best. I am so happy I could take my chance with Ronnie dropping out. That match there shows how well I can play."

Robertson resurgence continues

When O'Sullivan elected not to play in the 2020 edition of the tournament Ali Carter was the beneficiary, taking advantage of the late call-up to reach the final.

Robertson, who won the opening frame but then lost momentum when a red to the left corner appeared to roll off in the second frame, will now hope to replicate that feat.

The 42-year-old won the English Open title earlier this term and has shown signs of returning to form after a dismal 2023-24 campaign.

In contrast Higgins, who turns 50 later this year, has now been knocked out of the Masters in the first round for the third year running.

And for the Scot, who has struggled during recent seasons to get over the line from winning positions, it will evoke memories of his 2022 Tour Championship final defeat by Robertson, who came from 9-4 down to win 10-9.

Murphy edges past despondent Wilson

Meanwhile, Sunday's second first-round encounter almost followed a similar pattern, with Murphy establishing a 4-0 advantage at the mid-session interval.

However, he was then pegged back to 4-3 by world number 16 Wilson, who had initially struggled to settle on his debut at the venue.

A break of 101 in little over seven minutes, plus further runs of 92 and 52, suggested that the momentum had shifted in Wilson's favour.

Murphy, who won the Masters a decade ago, responded with a wonderful century break of his own in the next frame to stop the rot and his experience told in a nervy ninth frame.

"After the interval it did not feel very safe. I feel really proud of how I stood up and won that penultimate frame with a century," Murphy told BBC Sport.

"You just want to get through. I have been working on my game and there are little green shoots of improvement, and there were moments I thought I played really well. In the end that burst of four frames was probably the difference."

In contrast to a a visibly elated Murphy, who was quick to celebrate his win, Wilson cut a disconsolate figure.

"I am fed up. I didn't even enjoy that. I didn't enjoy playing, I didn't enjoy the atmosphere," he said.

"I enjoyed it in one sense when I was coming back, and the crowd were getting involved, but my game is just shot. I wasn't cueing well.

"I feel a bit like Ding [Junhui] and Stephen Hendry, who have had problems, I am snatching at shots constantly. It wasn't nerves. In another life you are thinking, 'I'd love this, if I could cue properly I would be a really top player'. I just felt depressed out there."