Category: Mark Allen

John Higgins said he was “proud” of a match-winning “special clearance” against Mark Allen at the World Championship on Monday evening.

With the game tied at 12-12, Allen was 62-0 clear when he missed a red that most would have expected him to sink, leaving a tough ask for Higgins to take on.

However, a remarkable double on a red and some expert positional play – coupled with some calm nerves – saw Higgins add 64 points and move into the quarter-finals, where he will face Kyren Wilson.

Higgins spoke to Eurosport in the studio after his win, and discussed his decision to take on the double.

He said: “I don’t know. I didn’t think the red went, but I’m thinking ‘let’s go for it’. There’s a sniff of a chance you might get it and get the clearance.

“When it went in, I felt calm.”

In the aftermath of the win, Allen paid tribute to the former world No. 1, who remains one of the finest players on the tour.

Higgins replied: “I get a bit emotional. Mark is a total gentleman, said some nice words. I went into the dressing room and had a little bubble myself, because I knew it was a special clearance.

“I’m delighted the way I held on to Mark when it was 7-5, the standard wasn’t great, taking a little bit of time.

“Sometimes I’m sitting admiring him, thinking ‘why doesn’t he play like that all the time?’ He’s an unbelievable player when he gets on a bit of a roll. I think he will win this tournament in the future, but he’s got to play at that pace, because he’s not as good when he starts double-guessing himself.

“Tonight, the one thing I’ll mention about Mark is his bottle. He’s got incredible bottle, and I never in a million years thought he was going to miss that red. That’s just the one thing I’ve always said about him.”

Throughout the interview, Higgins was reluctant to acknowledge the steel he had displayed, and the talent alongside it.

But ultimately he acknowledged: “I’m over the moon. I think it will hit me later that it was a special clearance. I’m proud of myself.”

Sweet wrappers, crisp packets and the dreaded mobile phone are often the scourge of professional snooker players when down on their shots.

Occasionally, and it is only occasionally, spectators do get a little wild and that was the case during Mark Allen’s clash with John Higgins at the World Championship on Sunday afternoon.

With Allen about to take a shot in the 13th frame, he was halted in the middle of his backswing by a scream from the crowd.

It was not clear what was shouted out, but it caught the attention of Allen who stepped up off his shot and referee Paul Collier exclaimed “who was that?”

It would appear the offending voice was identified, as Collier followed up by saying: “Can you escort him out please?”

A delay ensued, before a round of applause greeted the exit of the person in question.

His exit was welcomed by Joe Johnson in the Eurosport commentary box.

“Just as the player was down on his stroke, very ungentlemanly,” the 1986 world champion said.

The Crucible is an intimate venue and the ruckus also halted play on the adjoining table.

David Hendon was covering the Jack Lisowski versus Stuart Bingham match, and the doyen of the Eurosport commentary box said what many were thinking.

“It’s possible one gentleman has enjoyed the afternoon refreshments a little too much,” Hendon said.

Sweet wrappers, crisp packets and the dreaded mobile phone are often the scourge of professional snooker players when down on their shots.

Occasionally, and it is only occasionally, spectators do get a little wild and that was the case during Mark Allen’s clash with John Higgins at the World Championship on Sunday afternoon.

With Allen about to take a shot in the 13th frame, he was halted in the middle of his backswing by a scream from the crowd.

It was not clear what was shouted out, but it caught the attention of Allen who stepped up off his shot and referee Paul Collier exclaimed “who was that?”

It would appear the offending voice was identified, as Collier followed up by saying: “Can you escort him out please?”

A delay ensued, before a round of applause greeted the exit of the person in question.

His exit was welcomed by Joe Johnson in the Eurosport commentary box.

“Just as the player was down on his stroke, very ungentlemanly,” the 1986 world champion said.

The Crucible is an intimate venue and the ruckus also halted play on the adjoining table.

David Hendon was covering the Jack Lisowski versus Stuart Bingham match, and the doyen of the Eurosport commentary box said what many were thinking.

“It’s possible one gentleman has enjoyed the afternoon refreshments a little too much,” Hendon said.

John Higgins won the final frame of the afternoon to secure a share of the opening session at 4-4 with Mark Allen in their last-16 clash at the World Championship.

Higgins struggled from long range, while Allen’s cue-ball control was lacking at times, and the contest failed to catch fire.

While the fireworks were lacking, there was plenty of tension as both battled hard in the first of three sessions.

The pair will return on Sunday afternoon for their second session.

The contest kicked off with Allen inheriting a table that had the look of a practice session, with reds spread invitingly and high-value colours available.

Despite making hard work of the break – and almost missing a blue – Allen knocked in his 47th century of the season, a run of 119, to get his nose in front.

Allen had chances in the second, but lost the cue ball on each occasion, and a mistake on the final red allowed Higgins to draw level.

The way Higgins stroked in a long red at the start of the third frame and went on to make 73 suggested it felt good in his hands. It proved to be one of few pots from range that he was able to knock in.

There was pressure on Higgins, as only a win would be enough for the four-time world champion to retain his place in the top 16, and there were signs of nerves as he missed a makeable red to the right middle and Allen cashed in to draw level at the interval.

Higgins looked jittery in the frame after the interval, and a poor miss was punished as Allen made a run of 79 to move back in front.

Allen has made a hugely successful career in recent seasons on the back of a circumspect approach, shunning tough shots in favour of patience.

Trailing by 11 points on the brown in the sixth frame, it came as a surprise when Allen went for a tough pot to the green pocket. It did not drop and Higgins punished the error to draw level.

Higgins walked away from the table scratching his head after missing a red by a distance at the start of the seventh, with his misery compounded by leaving Allen an easy starter. The world No. 3 went on to make 65 and that proved enough to take him back in front.

The final frame of the session had a big feel to it – even at this early juncture in the clash – and it went Higgins’ way.

Allen had a chance to take it after Higgins saw a red hit the jaws of the left middle, but he missed a blue to the green pocket and his opponent held firm to draw level at 4-4.