Higgins led 5-3 going into the afternoon session, and repeated that feat by taking five of the eight frames on Friday.
An impressive 115 break from Hawkins narrowed the gap to 8-5, but Higgins won two of the final three frames to edge further ahead.
The duo are back in action on Saturday morning from 10am, with their semi-final set to conclude in the evening, unless Higgins can claim seven out of eight frames early on in the best of 33 match.
Morning Session: Selby overtakes Ding
Defending champion Mark Selby is eyeing a repeat of last year’s final outcome against Ding Junhui, and by retrieving a 5-3 overnight deficit to lead 9-7 he showed the form and application that could see him reach another Crucible title match.
Without being at his very best, Selby engineered a platform from which he can push for victory in the best-of-33-frame tussle.
He jolted Sheffield-based Ding by taking the four frames before the interval, setting a high benchmark in the morning’s opener by making an ominous 100 break. It then took graft from Selby to nose in front and fend off a rejuvenated Ding following the interval. It was Ding who provided the session’s highlight, a mesmerising 139 total clearance in the seventh frame.
It followed a skilfully plotted 84 two frames earlier which showed his focus remained sharp.
China’s hopes yet again rest on Ding, and the morning start in Sheffield meant the match was prime-time viewing in his homeland. But few in the Far East would have enjoyed the sight of Selby taking six of the eight frames before lunch.
The 33-year-old from Leicester accepts he cannot turn on the style all the time, even though his quarter-final annihilation of Marco Fu’s title hopes showed Selby has plenty in reserve in case he becomes involved in a shoot-out of big breaks.
“You know in this tournament you’re not going to be able to play well in every single session, it’s more or less impossible,” Selby said.
“ So you need to be able to scrap it out and I’ve shown in the past I can do that.“
He and Ding return for another eight frames in the evening, with their semi-final scheduled to finish on Saturday afternoon.
