Higgins suffers early Masters exit to Allen

JOHN HIGGINS crashed out of the Masters yesterday after a dramatic final-frame decider against Mark Allen. The four-time world champion, the only Scot in the competition, lost 6-5 to the Northern Irishman at Alexandra Palace in London. Higgins missed a black when on course to win the deciding frame, and Allen made a break of 44 to take the match. ‘If you don’t pot balls at the key moments, you don’t win snooker matches,’ the 41-year-old (inset) said afterwards. Higgins started strongly, a 111 break helping him into a 2-0 lead, before Allen hit back to level at 2-2. A run of 54 saw the Scot nudge ahead again before breaks of 81 and 104 gave Allen, 30, the lead. The ninth frame saw a re-spotted black, and Allen took it with a stunning pot. Higgins, the world No 3, took it to a decider, but Allen held his nerve to repeat his 2015 first-round win over the Scot. ANDREW STRAUSS is facing delicate negotiations before he decides which England cricketers will be permitted to skip two oneday internationals against Ireland in May to play in the Indian Premier League. It remains to be seen whether team director Strauss allows Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, Jason Roy, Alex Hales and Sam Billings the chance to play for another two weeks in the world’s most lucrative Twenty20 league. Strauss will talk to those who want to enter the IPL auction before he decides who must return by May 1 to continue England’s Champions Trophy build-up.