Antrim's Mark Allen gave his supporters plenty to smile about with a 5-3 victory over Mark Williams, the two-time world champion at the Northern Ireland Trophy in the Waterfront Hall last night.

Allen, world number 16, raced into a commanding 4-0 lead with breaks of 106, 85, 77 and 56, but Welshman Williams hit back with runs of 58 and 68, winning three frames to reduce his arrears.

But the Antrim-based cueman held his nerve and won the eighth and deciding frame with a break of 47 to go through.

"I didn't want the interval to come, he (Mark) had time to regroup and it showed in the second session," said Allen.

"Mark fought his way back into the match rather than me making mistakes, he showed what he's capable of in those three frames he won."

Defending champion Stephen Maguire and two-time world champion John Higgins booked their places in the quarter-finals.

Both Scottish potters triumphed at the Belfast's Waterfront Hall, but while Higgins cruised to a 5-1 victory over Chinese qualifier Liang Wenbo, Maguire had to battle back from 4-2 down to another Scot, Alan McManus, before eventually triumphing 5-4.

Maguire was unhappy that he did not play on the main TV table, instead Higgins was given top billing.

It was little surprise that the world number two refused to do his post-match press conference following his brave comeback.

McManus, who had to qualify for this week's £200,500 tournament having fallen down the rankings in recent times, eased into a 2-0 and led 3-1 at the mid-session interval.

And at 4-2 ahead the Bearsden professional, who compiled match breaks of 50 and 56, looked to be on course for an upset.

But Maguire, twice a ranking event winner last season rallied and, added to his early break of 91, won the last three frames on the bounce courtesy of breaks of 115, 48 and 61.

Higgins, whose last ranking quarter-final was at the 2007 World Championship - a tournament he won - made his experience count to beat rising star Wenbo.

Breaks of 53 and 68 did the bulk of the damage, while Wenbo had a top break of 69.

Wenbo was guilty of trying to pot his way out of trouble, part of his game which Higgins is confident the youngster will improve on.

"He plays far too openly, so he'll have to change. But I'm sure he will do, he'll learn that he has to adapt," said the world number five.

"For the crowd and for the fans back at home it's nice to see someone wind up and have a go.

"You don't mind taking shots on when it's 50-50, but he was taking shots on which were 20-80 in his favour.

"I felt as if I was hitting the ball well, but I missed a couple of balls I couldn't really believe.

"I'm happy though, the conditions out there were first class. I've criticised them in the past, but I hold my hands up because they've been superb. It was good to get over the line."

Also through to the quarter-finals is Dave Harold, a qualifier from Stoke.