John Higgins beat Neil Robertson 4-2 in the snooker Premier League at the Guild Hall in Preston.

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The world champion edged two of the first three frames in a scrappy start to the match before breaks of 73 and 63 ensured him the win.

But Robertson fought back with a 48 in the final frame to keep the deficit down.

In the evening's other match, 2009 world championship runner-up Shaun Murphy and seven-times world champion Stephen Hendry split the honours in a 3-3 draw.

Hendry went in-off to end a break of 50 in the opening frame, with Murphy producing a 55 in the second to go 2-0 ahead.

But the Scot fought back with a 68 and a 96 in the next two frames to level things before the players split the final two frames.