WORLD No3 John Higgins came from two frames down to defeat Zhao Xintong of China 4-3 as he battled through to the second round of the Indian Open in Vizag.
The Scot, runner-up to Mark Selby in the 2017 World Championship final, found himself trailing 2-0 against the 20-year-old, who last month reached the fourth round at the Paul Hunter Classic.
However, unanswered breaks of 77 and then 88 levelled things up, before Higgins edged a tense fifth frame only for Zhao to force a decider which the Wizard of Wishaw secured with a composed clearance of 87.
Elsewhere, defending champion Anthony McGill saw off England’s Ashley Hugill 4-1, but veteran Scot Alan McManus went down 4-3 against 23-year-old Gateshead potter Elliot Slessor.
Shaun Murphy, the world No 5, produced a 4-0 demolition of Hammad Miah.
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