Higgins: “Never in a million years did I expect Mark to miss.” What Allen said to him at the end

The “Wizard from Wishaw” is in the quarter-finals for the 18th time at the Crucible, having incredibly survived the duel with Mark Allen, one of the most consistent players of recent years.

Northern Irishman slips away with victory: Despite starting the deciding session at 9-7 and 3 games ahead, Higgins somehow managed to stay in the match and level at 10, although his first two games last night could very well to reach the right of the nicknamed “The Pistol”.

Without a break of over 100 points in the match, the Scot hung on to every opportunity, although he missed a lot and failed to build consistent breaks. John came back from 11-10 and 12-11 down, but it looked like the chance had left him in the decider when Allen put a 62-point break on the table. However, he missed a shot with the support, but did not leave Higgins any pocket balls. Apparently, because the four-time world champion pulled off an all-or-nothing shot with the mantle, managing to close out an incredibly tough table where he had an impossible mission down to the last red ball on the table.

“I don’t know how to explain what happened in the last game. I saw that I couldn’t play the ball that Mark missed and I said to myself: “This is your chance! If you manage to put the red ball in with the jacket, it’s your game.” I was convinced that I could close the table. I got the shot and managed to keep my cool after that, although there were some very tense moments“, John revealed in the Eurosport studio.

John Higgins, congratulated by Mark Allen! Big words for the Northern Irishman

Lately, Higgins has had big mental and trust issues. Psychic was crushed by the 3 World Championship finals lost in a row (with Selby – 2017, with Mark Williams – 2018 and with Judd Trump – 2019), subsequently succumbing each time when he was under pressure (5 lost finals in the last 3 years).

Without a major trophy from the Players Championship 2021, the quadruple world champion is even flirting with the idea of retirement, but access to the quarterfinals of the World Cup can give him a real “reset”. At least that’s the hope of Mark Allen, who had a superb message for the Scot after last night’s clash.

“I was very emotional at the end, that’s also because Mark is a perfect gentleman and he said nice words to me. He told me he hoped this win would give me the confidence I needed. Then I went to the locker room and sat in my own bubble for a few minutes to savor the moment, because I realized it was a special mass closing.

I’m proud that I hung on in the match, even though I didn’t play to my highest standard. I tried to take each shot in stride, not think about what wasn’t working or the score“, Higgins also said.

The Scot in turn had kind words for his opponent, who he sees triumphing at the Crucible in years to come. Higgins showed a lot of modesty throughout the interview with Eurosport, admitting that he was extremely lucky and that he did not expect that in the decisive game he would have the opportunity to return to the table.

“Sometimes I sit and admire Mark and wonder “why doesn’t he play like this all the time?”. He’s a phenomenal player and if you give him control of the table, he’s capable of great things. He’ll win here one day, I’m sure of it.

I knew if I got him off the pace I had a chance, but I had a lot of chances, I have to admit. I never expected in a million years to miss that red ball and have another chance to return to the table“, the “Wizard of Wishaw” also said.

Higgins therefore reached the quarterfinals of the World Championship, after a game in which he did not shine, but in which he made a final break that erased all his pale evolution. In order to reach the semi-finals he will have to be much better, because in the last 8 Kyren Wilson, the finalist from 2020, awaits him. “The Warrior” is in turn a Crucible specialist, ticking off two other semi-finals and 3 quarter-finals and he is in excellent form (conceding only 7 frames in the two disputes in Sheffield: 10-1 with Dominic Dale and 13-6 with Joe O’Connor).

Higgins has the upper hand over Wilson, winning 8 of his last 10 head-to-head contests, but the Englishman currently looks the fitter player. It will be a thrilling battle, where it is almost impossible to predict who will win.

Today, from 12:00, on Eurosport 1 and in the Eurosport app, the quarters of the World Championship begin, the first to enter the arena being Judd Trump and Jak Jones. In parallel, the first session of the quarter David Gilbert – Stephen Maguire will be contested.

World Championship quarter-final schedule: