John Higgins produced one of the great Masters fightbacks this evening, recovering from a 5-3 deficit to overcome world champion Zhao Xintong 6-5 in a gripping quarter-final encounter at Alexandra Palace.
The 50-year-old Scottish veteran, appearing at the prestigious invitational event for a record-extending 32nd consecutive time, held his nerve magnificently in the decider to book his place in the last four.
After Zhao faltered on 53 points and failed to convert a difficult red to the top-right corner, Higgins stepped in to clear the remaining colours and seal a memorable triumph.
The match marked the first contest of this year's tournament not to end 6-2, breaking a pattern that had persisted through all eight opening-round fixtures.
John Higgins defied the odds to beat world champion Zhao Xintong
|PA
The turning point arrived courtesy of an astonishing piece of fortune that left spectators gasping.
Higgins made a complete hash of an attempted plant shot, yet somehow emerged with precisely the outcome he needed.
One of the reds careered across the table and dropped into the opposite pocket to the one intended, while the cue ball improbably came to rest perfectly positioned on the black.
This slice of luck enabled the Scot to draw level at 5-5 and force the deciding frame.
"I was so lucky," Higgins admitted to the BBC afterwards.
John Higgins and Zhao Xintong shook hands after an incredible match
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"It was criminal."
The veteran, chasing a third Masters crown having last lifted the trophy in 2006, capitalised on his good fortune by constructing a break of 58 to complete the frame.
Despite the fortunate nature of his victory, Higgins expressed genuine satisfaction at remaining competitive at the highest level.
"It's tough out there," he reflected. "I'm delighted and so proud I'm still doing it."
The four-time world champion had appeared destined for defeat when he went in-off after potting a red to the middle pocket in the seventh frame, before squandering a crucial black in the eighth.
Twelve months ago, Higgins suffered a painful deciding-frame loss to Neil Robertson at this same venue, making tonight's reversal of fortune all the sweeter.
That was a masterful move by John Higgins, only he could make it from that angle 👏 pic.twitter.com/IUtr9d2joW
— TNT Sports (@tntsports) January 15, 2026
The Scot will now face either world number one Judd Trump or Northern Ireland's Mark Allen in Saturday's semi-final, with that quarter-final tie taking place later this evening.