Higgins moves joint top

Higgins: Workmanlike

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John Higgins has moved joint top of the Premier League table with Ronnie O'Sullivan after a workmanlike victory against Neil Robertson in Preston on Thursday.

The match was not of the highest quality with both players missing a number of chances and Robertson - who was a late arrival at the venue - twice losing frames having had runs into the 30s.

Higgins took a scrappy opener and the second was little better - Robertson eventually levelling after his opponent failed to take advantage of a missed red into the bottom right pocket midway through the frame.

The Scot then went 2-1 up in a frame which took 20 minutes but signs that the fourth might produce a little excitement came when Robertson opened with a trademark long red.

However, it was Higgins who took the frame after recording a break of 73 - the highest of the match - before another run of 63 saw him make the match safe. His Australian opponent then made the scoreline 4-2 thanks largely to a break of 49.

Honours even

In the evening's second match, honours ended even between Stephen Hendry and Shaun Murphy.

Murphy could have moved up to second in the table with a good victory and he started well, taking the opener with a clearance of 48 - his opponent having made 46 before fouling and then still having chances to take the frame - before racing 2-0 ahead thanks to a break of 55.

But breaks of 42 and 68 allowed Hendry to pull a frame back and with a possible 141 available in the fourth, he just managed to reach three figures to level.

Having not potted a ball for two frames, Murphy needed to re-establish momentum and he did enough to guarantee himself a draw in a fifth frame, which presented both players with more than one chance.

However, he could not take the win and having been ahead throughout the sixth, Hendry took it to stand third overall in the table - Murphy moving up from seventh to fifth.