Zhang Anda produced an outstanding potting show to defeat world champion Zhao Xintong 6-2 and advance to the final eight on the UK Championship.

The 33-year-old, who has now reached three consecutive quarter-finals in York, will face Shaun Murphy.

Englishman Murphy got here from 4-1 and 5-3 all the way down to defeat John Higgins 6-5 in a dramatic decider, describing it as “the most effective wins” of his life.

Having misplaced the opening body of the all-Chinese language assembly, Zhang hit back-to-back centuries as the primary 4 frames have been shared.

However Zhao, who was responsible of lacking a number of routine pots, was punished closely by his compatriot when play resumed after the interval.

Zhang was close to faultless among the many balls and reeled off their subsequent three frames with breaks of 87, 69 and 73 earlier than rounding off his victory in a nervy eighth body.

“I performed so properly, there have been three frames the place I scored closely and Xintong didn’t play properly. It was my day,” Zhang advised BBC Sport.

“Within the first session, I made two centuries and it was superb stuff from me. Within the fourth body, I missed some easy photographs however I advised myself to overlook it – I’m enjoying properly, I can beat him.”

For many of Thursday night, it seemed as if Zhang could be granted his want of enjoying his boyhood hero Higgins subsequent.

The Scot, who received the second of his two UK crowns in 2010, registered two breaks of 70 plus a 78 and a 60 on his method to a wholesome 4-1 benefit.

Throughout that run, he took the third and fifth frames after errors from the reigning Masters champion, who had seemed set to win each.

But, a number of unfastened pots of his personal allowed Murphy again into the competition and the Englishman constructed an 89 – his highest break of the Championship – and a 53 on his method to forcing an eleventh body, which went his method after Higgins missed the yellow to the highest proper nook.

“It is the previous cliche of 1 ball at a time,” mentioned Murphy.

“Any time you play any of the Class of 92, you want your finest and any win must be celebrated. Significantly from that place, it is without doubt one of the finest wins of my life.”