"He's improved no end really, right now when he gets a chance the only other player who you think will dish up is O'Sullivan," said Higgins. "It's the same aura that Neil has about him. Most of the match he was taking his chances we both missed a few at the end but that was the pressure. I don't know if I can handle this, 13-12 at the world, 6-5 at the Grand Prix.

"It's torture, you're trying for your life and thinking - can it not be easy? It was great to do a break in the last. He's such a great potter, even in the last I thought I'd left him safe but he's smacked in a long red into the yellow bag and come round for the black. The way he played I was expecting a frame winning break from him, he was unlucky."

"I've not been contesting at the UK for a number of years now, I think the last time was in the semis against Ebdon a few years ago. It's one of the tournaments this year I'd love to come in and have a good go at it."

Higgins held a 5-3 lead from the first session but saw that lead wiped out as the Australian hit back with three on the spin, opening with a 127 and followed that with a 78. The 34-year-old from Wishaw turned the tables taking the next three frames with runs of 53 and 55.

After their epic contests at the Crucible and the Kelvin Hall this year it was almost inevitable that this match would also go to a decider. This time there was no black ball drama, Robertson was unlucky when he tried to split the pack but Higgins compiled a great break of 69 to seal victory.

Higgins will now face Liang Wenbo.

"I've played him a couple of times now. When he first came over he was pretty reckless, I played him in Wales and I said that. The improvement from him has been immense," said the World Champion.

Mark Selby's continued his fine form with a 9-5 defeat of Stephen Hendry to book a place in the last eight.

"The first session I couldn't have played any better but still could have come out of it at 4-4. Stephen played some good snooker and put me under pressure, so I was really happy to get out at 5-3.

"The second session I knew I just had to share the frames with him to get through the match," said Selby.

The five-time UK Champion is lacking confidence in his game and despite a century and another break over fifty in the second session it wasn't enough. Selby claimed the opening frame before Hendry hit back with a century. They traded the next two, Selby striking first with an 82 only for the Scot to respond with a 74.

However the Jester from Leicester then edged to within a frame of victory with a 70. Both players had a numerous chances in the fourteenth frame before Selby ensured it was the final frame of the match.

He now faces Ronnie O'Sullivan who defeated Peter Ebdon.

"You have to have belief and that's what I don't have. I can't string two wins together. I just wish I could give them a game, I'm playing at ten per cent," said Hendry.