Alfie Burden enjoyed one of the biggest victories of his career on Thursday when he beat four-time world champion John Higgins 4-2 to reach the quarter-finals of the Scottish Open.

The 41-year-old, who came within one frame of losing his tour card at the end of last season before avoiding that fate by beating David Gilbert 10-9 in World Championship qualifying, fighting back from 2-1 down to record the victory, helped by breaks of 61 and 71.

Burden has certainly shown a great battling spirit throughout this week’s competition in Glasgow, twice coming from 3-0 down to win matches against Marco Fu and Zhang Yong. However, it is the victory over Higgins that has particularly pleased the Englishman.

“It feels amazing. John is the best player, alongside Ronnie O’Sullivan, to have ever played the game,” Burden told World Snooker. “I just kept fighting, like I have done all week. Those wins from 3-0 down have given me the mentality to never give up, whatever happens.

“It is not easy to do that when you have John Higgins sitting in the other chair, but you have to blank that out and try to take your chances.”

Burden’s reward for reaching the quarter-finals of a ranking event for just the fourth time in his career is a clash with Masters champion Mark Allen, who beat Graeme Dott 4-2 in his fourth-round match.

Allen is priced at 1.17 to overcome Burden, who is available at 4.75 to cause another surprise in Friday’s contest.