Higgins led Thursday's last 16 clash 3-0 and then 4-1 before Stevens won the next three frames to level the match.

But Higgins, bidding to become only the third player to successfully defend his crown in the Grand Prix, kept his nerve to win the decider for a 5-4 victory.

"I thought it was curtains!" said the relieved winner.

In other last 16 matches left-hander Ian McCulloch proved too strong for Wales' Ryan Day, winning 5-3, and Alan McManus breezed past Mark Selby 5-1.