Davis sets up Higgins showdown

St Leonards-based Davis booked his place the Far East with a 5-4 victory over Adrian Gunnell in the final round of the qualifiers on Thursday night. The tournament runs from September 5-11.

The world no.18 compiled a break of 115 and three other runs over 50 against 55th-ranked Gunnell, from Shropshire, but only got over the line in the decider at the World Snooker Academy in Sheffield.

World no.2 Higgins clinched his fourth World title at The Crucible in May with an 18-15 victory over Judd Trump - who Davis beat in the recent Australian Goldfields Open - in the final.

The 36-year-old Scot has won 20 other ranking event titles and made five competitive 147 breaks, but Davis has good memories of Shanghai having reached the last eight - equalling his best ranking event performance - in 2010.

Former Six Reds World Champion Davis, who will turn 39 on Friday, will be back in action over the coming days in Players Tour Championship event two at the South West Snooker Academy, Gloucester.