‘Still got it’: John Higgins edges Mark Allen with classic Crucible clearance
John Higgins summoned one of the great Crucible breaks to sink Mark Allen 13-12 and reach the quarter-finals for the 18th time in his career.
Coming to the table 62 points down in the decider, the four-times world champion played a nerveless double on a red to the middle, and later potted a red down the top cushion that Stephen Hendry, commentating on the BBC, called “one of the best shots I’ve ever seen”. Higgins then sank the colours to complete a dramatic 71 clearance to win the match.
Speaking to the BBC after his victory, a visibly emotional Higgins said his match-winning clearance was “probably the best” of his entire career. “Everything I’ve been through over the last couple of years, to do that under the biggest pressure … I actually felt great, and thought: I’ve got to go for the double!”
“I do think I’ve still got it,” the 48year-old said after finding his best form to eliminate the world No 3. Victory also guaranteed Higgins’ place in the top 16 next season, although the Scot insisted that was not on his mind. “Not at all, to be honest. To come here and play is incredible, I love playing here … [and] I’m pretty good under pressure!”
Higgins had resumed trailing 9-7 and fell a further frame behind before producing a trademark comeback that leaves Allen still waiting for his maiden world crown. He will next face Kyren Wilson, who won the three frames required in the afternoon session to complete a 13-6 win over Joe O’Connor.
Stuart Bingham, the 2015 champion, sealed a last-eight clash with Ronnie O’Sullivan after winning the last two frames to overcome Jack Lisowski 13-11. Lisowski had hauled level with consecutive breaks of 88 and 123 but Bingham, who had battled through qualifying after falling out of the top 16, held his nerve to keep his dream of a second title alive.
O’Sullivan’s push to claim a record eighth Crucible crown remains firmly on track after he beat Ryan Day 13-7 to reach the quarters. The 48-yearold went into the third session of his second-round clash with a 10-6 lead before winning three out of four frames in just over an hour on Monday afternoon to make it through to the last eight.
O’Sullivan, who has 41 ranking tournament wins to his name, will now play Bingham for a place in the semis. “I’ve had such a long time in the doldrums,” O’Sullivan told the BBC after beating Day. “For two years I’ve held it down, I’ve not really mentioned anything but it’s been really challenging.”
O’Sullivan detailed how he had struggled in that time as he added: “I’ve had to take medication for the anxiety and all that sort of stuff. That’s how bad the game can make me feel at times. I didn’t want to do that any more.
“I’ve just had a bit of excitement for the last couple of weeks, getting through the ball a little bit better. Then you come down crashing to earth,” he added. “It’s no good being able to do it for one match or one tournament, you’ve got to try and sustain it for a few months, even a year. I played great for three years once, never had a bad day, so it can happen, you just have to get everything right.”
O’Sullivan made Day pay for not taking his chances in the opening frame of the third session as he edged a close one 62-57 to stretch his advantage to 11-6. The Englishman tightened his grip with a fine break of 85 in the next to get within one frame of the quarters.
The seven-time champion was forced to wait as Day took the third frame of the session 94-5, but O’Sullivan wrapped up victory at the next opportunity to cruise into the last eight.