John Higgins is within touching distance of booking his place in the World Snooker Championship final despite Mark Allen mounting a spirited comeback to leave the score 15-9.

The 33-year-old from North Lanarkshire only won two out of the eight frames in the third session to raise hopes of an improbable Allen victory.

Two-time champion Higgins could have had the day off on Saturday if he had sealed the win at 13-3 up but a combination of some erratic potting and Allen's fighting spirit meant he couldn't finish the job.

Higgins started the day in dominant form winning seven out of the first eight frames including a 129 break.

Ulsterman Allen though turned the tables taking six of the eight frames to leave Higgins on the brink of entering his fourth final at the Crucible.