John Higgins defeated compatriot Anthony McGill 4-2 at the Romanian Snooker Masters in Bucharest.

It’s the fourth consecutive victory this season for Higgins over McGill. He also secured wins at the Indian Open final, the Champion of Champions and the Masters. It will serve as an early psychological blow for the four-time Crucible winner, who again faces McGill at next week’s Players Championship.

The Romanian capital was treated to a high quality contest today. McGill came out of the blocks fastest, with a run of 64 to take the opener. However, Higgins responded with back to back breaks of 82 and 94 to move ahead at 2-1. Two-time ranking event winner McGill hit back with a break of 85 and restored parity at 2-2.

From there Higgins claimed the remaining two frames to ensure he progressed to the last eight. He will now face a quarter-final with an in-form Ryan Day.

Day, who won his second ranking event title at the Gibraltar Open on Sunday, defeated Barry Hawkins 4-2 in what was a repeat of the 2017 World Grand Prix final.

It was Hawkins that lifted silverware on that occasion, but the Welshman proved to be too strong this afternoon. Day came from 2-1 down to claim three frames in a row and emerge with the victory. He top scored with a run of 76.

The last 16 round will come to a conclusion this evening with the quarter-finals taking place tomorrow. The semis and final will be played out over the weekend and the eventual winner will receive the 50,000 Euro top prize.