Kurt Maflin is through to the World Championship quarter-finals after he produced a sensational performance to overcome snooker legend John Higgins at the Crucible.

The Norwegian based potter fought back from 11-10 down to beat the four-times world champion 13-11 and achieve undoubtedly the best win of his career.

After winning two qualifiers and upsetting the odds to beat David Gilbert in the first round, Maflin is now one win away from playing at the famous one-table Crucible setup – something that has been in his wildest dreams for so long.

Higgins, well known for producing victories when not at his best, could not do anything to stop the world number 43 from reaching the last eight as he showed tremendous determination and attacking flair to get over the winning line.

Kurt Maflin. Picture by Monique Limbos

This was despite Higgins making the headlines earlier in the day after making the first Crucible 147 maximum break in eight years – the last being in 2012 when seven times world champion Stephen Hendry made one against Stuart Bingham.

Next up for Maflin will be a quarter-final tie against either Anthony McGill or Jamie Clarke – with one of those three qualifiers guaranteed to reach the World Championship semi-finals in a week’s time.

Speaking after the match, Maflin said he still feels his best is still to come despite two wonderful victories against the odds so far.

He told Eurosport presenter Colin Murray: “It’s unbelievable, it really is unbelievable.

“Jimmy (White) has been telling me for years just stick at it, keep working and you’ll get there. Obviously I’ve done that over the past couple of months and it has really paid off this week.

“I feel good, I feel comfortable and I still fell I can play better. I’m really looking forward to whoever I play next.”