“It’d be good to get to the final again, I played Neil in the final in 2013 and he beat me there, I played him earlier on this year and we had a good game, and I’m sure tomorrow will be no different”.
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In a classic last eight clash the Australian described as feeling like a final, Higgins knocked in three century breaks, including his 600th career ton, but was still unable to dislodge his opponent as he went down 6-5.
Higgins said: “I had chances in the final frame”. Liang made an 88 to win frame nine and started the next with a 53.
Liang will face Australia’s Neil Robertson or world number one Mark Selby in Sunday’s final. Tom played well and made a very good clearance to go 4-2 up.
From 2-0 down, Liang took the next two frames with breaks of 122 and 67 to draw level.
“The way I started the match was absolutely brilliant, to go 4-1 up, but John being the champion he is shut me out the next couple of frames”, said Robertson.
After reaching the semi-finals of the second-biggest event on the calendar, you might expect him to at least take a few days off but he claims that certainly wont be the case.
“Deep down, you do believe it’s in there somewhere but it’s no use saying it until it actually happens”.
Robertson admitted he was relieved to get through and said: “I almost messed it up”.
Only seven other players have won the UK Championship a couple of times – including legends of the game Steve Davis, Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O’Sullivan – and Robertson is keen to join their number.
The opener was an unusual affair, a 27-minute frame won by a 106, and Liang followed it up with 132 despite also being distracted by the butterfly.
Both players then won a frame in the next two to make it 5-3 in favor of Ford before Liang pulled off the powerful finish to capture the well-deserved victory.
The quarter-finals beckoned as he amassed 49 before poor shot selection allowed Ford back in.
World number 14 Fu punished him with a 79 and took the next with a 45 after Liang missed another opportunity. “I started unbelievably with three centuries in the first three frames but I don’t know how – I just concentrated and played well”, said Liang.
He let a comfortable lead slip in the 11th, but Grace missed a simple pink when he had to clear the colours. Robertson hauled his way back into the frame and snatched it, before Selby’s 55 in the next was countered by 68 from the man from Melbourne.
“John has been a great champion and he’s won a lot of deciding matches but I just had to keep calm and wait for my chance”.
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“I scored ok in the balls but you can’t afford to do that against the top guys and that’s what Neil is”.
