Marco Fu makes sublime 147 in deciding frame to stun John Higgins in semi-final thriller at Hong Kong Masters

Marco Fu made a sublime 147 maximum break in the final-frame decider to stun John Higgins and reach the Hong Kong Masters final. The home favourite staged a terrific fightback from 4-2 and 5-4 to send a thrilling match the distance before delighting the partisan crowd with a perfect total clearance to oust the four-time world champion. Ad Fu’s playing time has been limited in recent seasons after having surgery to fix the vision in his left eye – a procedure that left him fearing for his snooker career – and Covid restrictions.

Hong Kong Masters'Deafening noise!' — Fu makes 'wonderful' 147 in decider against HigginsAN HOUR AGO But roared on by a legion of fans, Fu made Higgins his second victim in the Hong Kong Coliseum after his victory over Mark Selby on Thursday. He will now play Ronnie O’Sullivan or Neil Robertson for the title. For so long, it looked like it would be Higgins in that showdown on Sunday.

The Scot swept in a century to take the opening frame after Fu had missed a simple black – and when the local icon missed another in the second, a speedy defeat looked on the cards. Instead, Higgins botched a red and allowed Fu to steal back in, with a break of 75 levelling the scores at 1-1. 'I knew I couldn't win' – Williams on why frantic dash to Hong Kong was all about the cash 'Very strange' — Robertson fouls after protestor puts him off Higgins was undeterred, however, and knocks of 68 and 83 saw him open up a two-frame lead heading into the interval.