JOHN Higgins’ bid for a fifth Betfred World Championships is still alive after coming from behind in dramatic fashion to beat Mark Allen and reach the quarter-finals.
The Wizard of Wishaw had trailed 5-2 in the first session, but fought back to take seven of the next nine frames heading into the evening session.
But despite a mammoth effort which saw Allen register four centuries, the Northern Irishman succumbed in the Crucible as Higgins prevailed 13-9.
The Scot will now face Kyren Wilson for a place in the last four as he eyes his first crown in Sheffield since 2011.
Allen had taken the first frame of the night, but Higgins fought back to take the next on the final black ball – a steal which maintained his two-frame lead and brought a fist pump from the Scot.
That proved the key moment as Higgins kept Allen at arm’s length, despite his opponent having the better of the statistics. Inevitably the game became scrappy as both realised the prize, with Allen chasing his first World Championship crown. But the experience of the Wishaw cueman eventually told as he rounded off the match in the 22nd frame to win 13-9.
Compatriot Stephen Maguire put in an assured showing to launch his second-round venture, leading 6-2 after the first session against Rory McLeod. Breaks of 67 and 71 helped Maguire lead 5-0 but McLeod, who defeated tournament favourite Judd Trump in the first round, rallied in their best-of-25 encounter, which continues today.
World champion Ronnie O’Sullivan has downplayed his motivation for another World Championship crown, by comparing himself to singer James Blunt, but the Romford-based cueman eased into the quarter-finals with a 13-7 win over Shaun Murphy, his 18th last-eight placing in Sheffield.
Breaks of 67, 52, 111 and 55 helped him ease over the line after resuming 10-6 up, with Ding Junhui the next obstacle in his way of a potential sixth title.
“It doesn’t drive me on, you might think that’s crazy, but I look at myself as a band or a singer nowadays – if you want to write great albums every year then you do well on the snooker circuit,” he said.
“I’m not confident enough in writing brilliant albums, so I come and have fun and look to enjoy it while doing my best and being fiercely competitive.
“If I was to win it, I’d be saying it’s a great feeling but I’ve had it five times before. Is it worth putting 365 days of blood, sweat and tears to hopefully get that title and get that feeling?”
Watch the Snooker World Championship Live on Eurosport and Eurosport Player, with Colin Murray and analysis from Jimmy White and Neal Foulds
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