LONDON, Jan 21: World champion Shaun Murphy slumped to defeat in the Masters quarterfinals here on Friday losing 6-4 to Scotland’s John Higgins.

Murphy led 2-1, but world number six Higgins won three frames on the trot and then held his nerve to clinch a semi-final place where he will face compatriot Alan McManus who beat former world champion Mark Williams.

“If Shaun had gone 2-0 ahead it might have been difficult to catch him. He’s such a good long-potter that it puts the fear of God into you.”

McManus, the 1994 Masters champion, beat Williams 6-4 in his quarterfinal.

Quarterfinals (best of 11 frames):

John Higgins (SCO) bt Shaun Murphy (ENG) 6-4 (Frame scores, Higgins first): 15-86, 56-45, 51-63, 79-0 (Break 79), 91-35 (55), 0-130 (115), 90-1 (77), 72-0, 48-87 (87), 74-0 (74); Alan McManus (SCO) bt Mark Williams (WAL) 6-4 (Frame scores, McManus first): 85-25, 0-82 (82), 92-23 (50), 62-11, 33-56 (50), 57-24, 8-71 (50), 61-22 (55), 13-85 (85), 86-19.—AFP