John Higgins gave an emotional interview moments after sealing his place in the World Snooker Championship quarter-finals with a thrilling 13-12 victory over Mark Allen. The tie was settled on the black in the deciding frame, with Higgins down 62-0 before a “special clearance” got him over the line late on Monday night.
World No.3 Allen will have been disappointed to miss a red that would have got him over the line when leading by 62 points, but Higgins still had a tough ask to clear the table. A superb double and smart play saw the Wizard of Wishaw overcome any nerves to set up a quarter-final with Kyren Wilson.
After coming back from a 9-7 deficit, Higgins reached the quarters for the third year in a row with hopes of claiming a first world title since 2011. And the 48-year-old was visibly emotional after the match and explained how proud he was to hold his nerves at the end of the match.
“It means a lot,” Higgins told Eurosport. “In the last few years I’ve been falling down at those most extreme pressure moments. It means a lot to me that clearance.
“Yeah I’m a bit emotional. Mark’s a total gentleman and said some nice words. I went into the dressing room and had a little bubble myself. I knew it was a special clearance. It’s only the last 16, it’s only the quarter-finals, I’ve got to get myself a good night’s sleep and get myself ready for Kyren.
“I was delighted with the way I held on to Mark because he had the burst, the four frames when it was 7-5, and the standard wasn’t great. It was taking a little bit of time. His first four frames playing like that, I was thinking, ‘Why does he not play like that all the time?’ I was sitting and admiring it. He’s an unbelievable player and when he gets on a little bit of a roll…”
Allen had been one of the favourites coming into the tournament and is still searching for his maiden World Championship crown. He has reached the semi-finals on two occasions but Higgins has backed the Northern Ireland potter to reach the summit if he continues his style of play from their final session.
“I think he will win this tournament in the future but I think he’s got to play to that pace,” Higgins explained. “He’s not as good when he’s second-guessing himself and different things.
“Tonight, the one thing I’ll mention about Mark, is his bottle. He’s got incredible bottle. I never in a million years thought he was going to miss that red. He’s got one of the best bottles that’s ever played this game. I’m pretty good as well, aye! I’m over the moon. It’ll hit me when I’m back in the hotel. That was a special clearance and I’m proud of myself.”
Winning this year’s tournament would be extra special for Higgins, having already hinted that this could be his last World Championship. At the recent Tour Championship in Manchester, he claimed that this Crucible attempt may be his “last crack” at glory.
When asked if that was still the case upon his arrival in Sheffield, Higgins reiterated: “It could be my last time playing here. The game’s tough, it really is. I’m going to immerse myself in the tournament, the city, give it everything and see where it takes me. We’ll just have to wait and see what happens.”
