John Higgins battles into World Championships semis to create remarkable 'Class of 92' first

John Higgins fought off a ferocious challenge from Jack Lisowski to join Ronnie O'Sullivan and Mark Williams in the semi-finals of World Championships.

O'Sullivan will play Higgins with Williams and trump battling it out in the other semi.

Higgins was made to work for it, with Lisowski - who has been working on his tactical game with former world champion Peter Ebdon - carving out a 11-9 lead going into the 21st frame.

However, the Wizard of Wishaw was able to use all his trademark matchplay prowess to turn it around at the end and pinch it 13-12.

"The way he was controlling it, winning all the tactical exchanges, he's got Peter Ebdon in his corner, he looked stronger than me," Higgins said of Lisowski.

"If he'd have got through I'd have shaken his hand. He's obviously learning."

"He was winning the tight, tough games. He's improved as a match player without a shadow of a doubt.

"I really don't know where those two frames came from at the end," admitted Higgins.

"I was struggling all day and I had not been taking my chances. You've just got to find a way to get over the winning line."

Lisowski himself said he could not agree with Higgins' assessment of his performance, but he was keen to take the positives.

"My tactics are so bad, I had no real idea what I was doing," Lisowski said. "I was just doing what I've trained to do recently. If John's said that then cor, that's great. It didn't feel like it.

"If John feels like I was getting on top of him in the tactical exchanges then that's amazing. You never would have thought that, that I could do that. It's not really my style is it?

"It's been my best run and John's probably got one of the best records ever here. To have pushed him all the way it shows I'm heading in the right direction,' Jack told the BBC.

"I'm just going to keep plugging away, this is definitely a positive end to the season and I'm already looking forward to next season already.

"Extremely disappointed, but I can say I gave it my all. If I keep it up the wins will come, but I'm just sad I lost tonight."

Judd Trump saw the amusing side of being the odd one out in the semi-finals, tweeting that he has "ended up stuck in the middle of a world seniors championship" after beating Stuart Bingham in his quarter-final.