O'Brien shocks Higgins

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The world number one was upset 5-4 by Irishman Fergal O'Brien who, facing the exit door himself, hit back with two century breaks to progress to the last 16 stage at Belfast's Waterfront Hall.

Trailing 4-3 O'Brien compiled a tournament high break of 142 and then pocketed a pressure break of 114 to make sure of his place in the next round of the £200,500 event.

"He (Fergal) had four good frame-winning breaks throughout the match, he played better than me," reflected a disappointed Higgins.

"I was garbage. I missed so many easy balls. I ran out of position a lot. That sums it up, he just played better than me. It's just one of those things."

Higgins looked to be heading through thanks to match breaks of 68, 44 and 44, but with victory just one frame away was forced to sit in his chair as Dubliner O'Brien gave the Irish supporters plenty to cheer.

"It's not easy to take when you play like that, but good luck to Fergal," added the Scot, who has failed to go further than the last 16 at any of the first three ranking events of the season.

"It's been the story of my life. I've had bad beats before - and I'll have them again."

Seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry is also through to the last 16, but was given a tough test by provisional world number 83 Martin Gould.

At 4-1 down Gould looked to be dead and buried, but breaks of 75 and 51 saw the qualifier fight back to 4-3, only for Scot Hendry to produce a superb 127 break to clinch victory and a meeting with 2005 Crucible champion Shaun Murphy in the next round.