John Higgins will face fellow Class of 92 member Mark Williams in the World Championship quarter-finals.

After being taken to a deciding frame by Xiao Guodong, Higgins just about got over the line to set up a clash with his fellow snooker legend.

“It was a weird feeling just coming back for one or two frames,” Higgins told BBC Four. “When I missed a black earlier this afternoon, I thought the snooker gods would not forgive me.

“The three sessions – I really enjoyed them because it’s an unbelievable venue to play in. You play some good minutes, the pressure is on you and the crowd are all getting involved. You can’t replicate playing here.

“It was different maybe 20-odd years ago when we [Higgins and Williams] were really big rivals. Now we walk into the practice room and give each other a nod as if to say: ‘How are we still here? How are we still here competing?’

“It’s incredible [that we are still going], and you throw Ronnie [O’Sullivan] into the mix as well. Three special players, you have got to say that. I don’t care if I’m calling myself that a little bit.”