Zhang Anda produced a superb potting display to defeat world champion Zhao Xintong 6-2 and advance to the last eight at the UK Championship.

The 33-year-old, who has now reached three consecutive quarter-finals in York, will face Shaun Murphy.

Englishman Murphy came from 4-1 and 5-3 down to defeat John Higgins 6-5 in a dramatic decider, describing it as “one of the best wins” of his life.

Having lost the opening frame of the all-Chinese meeting, Zhang hit back-to-back centuries as the first four frames were shared.

But Zhao, who was guilty of missing several routine pots, was punished heavily by his compatriot when play resumed after the interval.

Zhang was near faultless among the balls and reeled off their next three frames with breaks of 87, 69 and 73 before rounding off his victory in a nervy eighth frame.

“I played so well, there were three frames where I scored heavily and Xintong did not play well. It was my day,” Zhang told BBC Sport.

“In the first session, I made two centuries and it was very good stuff from me. In the fourth frame, I missed some simple shots but I told myself to forget it – I am playing well, I can beat him.”

For most of Thursday evening, it looked as though Zhang would be granted his wish of playing his boyhood hero Higgins next.

The Scot, who won the second of his two UK crowns in 2010, registered two breaks of 70 plus a 78 and a 60 on his way to a healthy 4-1 advantage.

During that run, he took the third and fifth frames after errors from the reigning Masters champion, who had looked set to win both.

Yet, several loose pots of his own allowed Murphy back into the contest and the Englishman constructed an 89 – his highest break of the Championship – and a 53 on his way to forcing an 11th frame, which went his way after Higgins missed the yellow to the top right corner.

“It’s the old cliche of one ball at a time,” said Murphy.

“Any time you play any of the Class of 92, you need your best and any win has to be celebrated. Particularly from that position, it is one of the best wins of my life.”