Fergal O'Brien will need all his famous recuperative powers if he is to reach the semi-finals of the UK Championship in Bournemouth. The world number nine from Dublin trails defending champion Mark Williams 6-2 after the first session last night and requires seven of the remaining nine frames tonight to qualify for the last four.

However, after coming from 7-2 down to deny world finalist Matthew Stevens 9-8 in the previous round, he believes anything is possible. Williams crucially won frame seven on a re-spotted black after he had initially required two snookers.

John Higgins is just two wins away from his first ranking tournament win for 10 months after reaching the last four last night. "It could easily have been 9-5 or 9-6 the other way," said Higgins, the first player to qualify for the penultimate round. "Drew played well but at the end of the frames he was missing crucial balls and that's what told the story."

Ronnie O'Sullivan was all square at 4-4 after the first session of his quarter-final against Quinten Hann.

Quarter-Finals (Best of 17 frames)

J Higgins (Sco) bt D Henry (Sco) 9-6. Frames scores (Higgins first): 69-9 23-74 22-59 76-11 63-62 44-72 59-52 65-2 0-79 70-58 8-59 71-61 95-0 47-61 119-1; R O'Sullivan (Eng) level with Q Hann (Aus) 4-4 (Frames scores (O'Sullivan 1st): 83-10 0-131 70-56 64-69 8-54 55-65 80-14 62-14)

Match resumes 2.15pm today; M Williams (Wal) leads F O'Brien (Irl) 6-2. Frames scores (Williams first): 7320, 10-101, 56-2, 44-69, 81-0, 72-12, 70-63, 98-39.

Match resumes 6.45pm today; S Hendry (Sco) v S Lee (Eng).

Match starts 2.15pm today.