British Open snooker semi-finals live – John Higgins whitewashes Oliver Lines to reach final in Cheltenham

THANKS FOR JOINING USWe will be back at 7pm when Mark Allen and Mark Selby lock cues jn the second semi-final of the British Open in Cheltenham. John Higgins will be hoping for a 6-5 on the final black in that one. RESULT: HIGGINS 6-0 LINES”I felt a bit sorry for Oliver. I thought that could happen. We’ve all been there when nothing goes right for you,” said Higgins. “I didn’t play well, but just tried to keep the pressure on. Nothing was running right today, but I’ll take that all day. I feel a bit more confident with the cue, and I’m trying to get on with it and play the right shots.”Oli was thinking he’s maybe thought he’s done well to reach the semi-finals, but it is experience and he won’t go out there the next time and play like that. He’ll be stronger for it.”RESULT: HIGGINS 6-0 LINESAnd that is your lot for the afternoon session in Cheltenham. A 6-0 win for John. He is through to a 56th ranking final against Mark Selby or Mark Allen. HIGGINS 5-0 LINES (69-0)Oli needing three snookers. A break of 67 should be enough to seal the deal in this semi-final. HIGGINS 5-0 LINES (52-0)In goes a black before a few more reds are disturbed. They’re all sitting ducks now. Higgins also set to confirm his return to the top 16 with this victory. HIGGINS 5-0 LINES (44-0)Reds nicely split here for John’s run to the line. Wouldn’t expect Oli to be playing another shot in this match. HIGGINS 5-0 LINES (21-0)Locals trying to offer some support to Lines, but this match is heading in one direction with Higgins canning a magical long red down a side rail. Doing what needs to be done here. And a bit more when the mood takes him.. HIGGINS 4-0 LINES (89-4)A 25 break from John Higgins and a 5-0 lead in this semi-final. Five up with a possible six to play. Can Line stave off the whitewash? Easier said than done. HIGGINS 4-0 LINES (72-4)A 64 break from John, but a plant on a red doesn’t drop. Lines then fails to float in a long red. Which has been the story of the match. Oliver looks like a spent force out there today. HIGGINS 4-0 LINES (48-4)This is looking very promising for Higgins to establish a 5-0 lead with a one-visit hit. Plenty of reds out in open play to get the job done here and now. HIGGINS 4-0 LINES (16-4)Early chance then for John to compile some points. Been here before today with Higgins getting frames won in bits and pieces. HIGGINS 4-0 LINES (0-4)Lines drills in a long red with some relish straight off the bat, but only green to follow before another safety shot is called for. Oli then sticks up a red after missing a long red. HIGGINS 4-0 LINES (0-0)Not much more play on colours before Oli concedes the frame. Higgins two frames away from the final. HIGGINS 3-0 LINES (65-28)Higgins lays a stunning snooker behind black. Oli hits the red the second time, but sticks up red and the Scotsman is going to move four to the good. Oli needing three snookers on colours. HIGGINS 3-0 LINES (53-28)Higgins slides in red and yellow to move to cusp of 4-0. Lines looks like he needs a break. Long game has gone to pot. HIGGINS 3-0 LINES (50-28)Oli down to the final two reds on the counter attack. But can’t land on a red having made 24, and just safety to follow. Which is good news for John after he missed the red. HIGGINS 3-0 LINES (50-12)John Higgins inching towards a 4-0 lead at the interval. Long way from his vintage best in this semi-final, but doing enough to win frames. The Scot missing another tricky red along top cushion under no pressure. Didn’t expect that not to drop. HIGGINS 3-0 LINES (24-4)Another very scrappy frame in progress. Lines only making four after nudging a red over a hole in off another red. Higgins studying a plant on two reds. In it goes along top cush, and another chance then falls for the 31-time ranking event winner to make some progress. HIGGINS 3-0 LINES (17-0)Well, that is a surprise as Higgins misses a red to left middle, but Oli can’t cash in as a mid-range red can only threaten the jaws. Big frame here in context of match. Neither man overly convincing as Higgins can’t sink a long red. HIGGINS 3-0 LINES (7-0)Brilliant long red and stun shot with power on pink from John. Excellent from Higgins early in the fourth frame. HIGGINS 3-0 LINES (0-0)This semi-final yet to truly come to life, but that won’t concern Higgins, who is doing what he needs to win frames. Can Oli launch a comeback? One more frame before the mid-sesh. HIGGINS 2-0 LINES (69-6)Higgins now opting to spoil the table as much as possible to prevent the counter attack. Three reds left on cushions. The 52-point lead looks big as Oli drains a long red. But the green goes in when potting pink. And John suddenly chasing red and a colour to reach snookers required. In they go. Looks like 3-0 in the bag. HIGGINS 2-0 LINES (57-4)Excellent shot by Higgins off two cushions to land on black after sinking red. Has got the pace of the table under control. And that cue ball is also under lock and key. But he hits another red with his cue on his backstroke, and a foul is called on the Scotsman. HIGGINS 2-0 LINES (49-0)Looks like John is finally coming to the party with what we expect from him at this level. Would expect him to end this visit to the baize clutching a 3-0 advantage. HIGGINS 2-0 LINES (8-0)Higgins breaks off in the third frame of this semi-final. The Wishaw man yet to find top gear, but it doesn’t matter if you win frames. Early chance for the four-time world champion as he slams in a red and nips in a black to left centre.HIGGINS 1-0 LINES (66-43)21 break from Higgins is not big, but big in the context of the match as blue down cushion leaves Lines needing a snooker with two balls left up. Higgins forced to escape from a snooker behind black. But in goes pink, and Higgins moves two ahead. HIGGINS 1-0 LINES (48-43)Oli into the lead then in this exacting second frame with one red left on table in baulk. Chance to play a snooker, but he makes a mess of the attempt and leaves an easy pot for John. Chance then to edge another frame. HIGGINS 1-0 LINES (39-14)John with white back near the top cushion. Certainly on top in the safety exchanges before he rolls in a red to yellow bag. Not sure there is a colour to follow the red. Heavy going out there as Higgins then butchers a safety shot to stick up an easy starter for his opponent. HIGGINS 1-0 LINES (38-6)Just 38 from that visit as reds don’t open well from the black. Attempts a red to green bag, but well off the potting angle. HIGGINS 1-0 LINES (31-6)John would dearly love to piece together a telling break at this visit to settle into this match. No future in constantly edging scrappy frames. HIGGINS 1-0 LINES (1-6)Line with another opportunity to make some progress after Higgins misses a red to right middle, but he then misses a mid-range red seconds later. HIGGINS 1-0 LINES (0-0)Higgins escapes from a snooker on the final pink off two cushions, and Oli has seen enough of this frame. Higgins winning a scrappy opening frame in the race to six in this semi-final. HIGGINS 0-0 LINES (63-42)Down to the final green with Higgins holding a 15-point lead. John needing green and brown for the frame. A fairly error-strewn opener. But Higgins plays an exceptional snooker behind the black. Lines goes round the back of the green in baulk. Hits it second time, but leaves green. In goes green and brown. John heading for a 1-0 lead. HIGGINS 0-0 LINES (45-37)Oliver can’t get final red off cushion from the black. Just safety to follow with eight points the difference. HIGGINS 0-0 LINES (45-29)So many chances coming and going for both men in this opener. All very tense as John gets hand on table. Higgins wriggles in a red at top end, followed by blue and in goes red to left middle. Chance to put this frame to bed. But another red with extended red doesn’t drop. Lines with a swerve shot to knock in the redHIGGINS 0-0 LINES (31-21)Not the easiest of tables, but Oliver bangs in a long red and drops in blue to follow. Chance to get ahead at least from this visit. But break quickly goes wrong. Can’t see a red, and is forced to declare on 18. HIGGINS 0-0 LINES (30-3)Great long red by Lines from baulk, but a bit too much juice on white from yellow. Goes for a red down table to green bag, but nothing doing. Another chance for Higgins, who then misses a yellow off the spot. Bit of a settling down period in this first frame. HIGGINS 0-0 LINES (29-0)John operating with a new cue, and it seems to be working well for him. Until he runs out of position on 29. Big bounce off top cush. And not on next red from black. HIGGINS 0-0 LINES (7-0)Lines has a poke at a long red early on. Nothing doing there, and he sticks up a red to right middle for John to get started.WHO HAS THE UPPER HAND IN SEMI-FINALS?Higgins is 4-0 clear on the head-to-heads with world No. 83 Lines. They last met in the last 16 of the English Open last year with the Scotsman running out a 4-1 winner. Interestingly enough, Oliver’s dad Peter is 6-3 clear of John on their career duels. Meanwhile, Allen is 10-8 ahead of Selby on their career battles before they do battle again tonight. Boys on baize imminently. HIGGINS RELISHING SEMI-FINAL DUEL”I’ve got to use my experience, settle quicker and get to six before him,” said Higgins, who is appearing in an 85th ranking event semi-final at the Centaur in Cheltenham. British Open schedule Saturday September 28John Higgins 4-0 Oliver LinesStream top snooker action including the 2024-25 Northern Ireland Open live on Eurosport and discovery+