Mark Allen defeats John Higgins in the Masters 2024 to go to the quarterfinals

Mark Allen defeated John Higgins with a brilliant comeback victory of 6-5 to maintain his chances of earning a second Masters title.

Allen of Northern Ireland overcame a 3-1 deficit to win an exciting final-frame match and advance to the Alexandra Palace quarterfinals.

“That’s a big hurdle for me, we were both very edgy,” he said to BBC Sport.

Next up for the 2018 Masters victor is Mark Selby, who defeated Robert Milkins 6-1 on Friday.

“It wasn’t the normal match between me and John; it was a bit scrappy and balls were missed,” Allen, 37, continued.

“But any win against John is a good win – so I’ll take it.”

 

 

“I didn’t feel too bad going into the last frame because, from 5-3 up to 5-5 I didn’t do much wrong, John froze me out,” Allen stated.

“I was just looking forward to the final and hopefully having the chance, because I missed two pretty difficult shots.

“I was worried when John missed a long red at the beginning and got away with it.

“But I played a few good safety shots there, got another chance and made the most of it.”

Higgins, a double Masters champion, was naturally eager to break his long drought at the game of snooker’s most prestigious invitational competition, having not won the title in 18 years.

After a spirited opening frame, the 48-year-old Scot took the lead, but Allen blew the last black to tie the game.

Higgins led 3-1 at the break thanks to breaks of 83 and 80, but the four-time world champion blew a good opportunity to build a three-frame advantage, which allowed Allen to rally.

The Antrim player duly reeled off four frames in a row, with top breaks of 123 and 58, to edge within one frame of victory.

Higgins responded with runs of 58 and 61 to take the match the distance, but Allen finished the job with a composed break of 86.

“I certainly feel a bit punch drunk after losing,” said Higgins.

“From 3-1 in front I never capitalised. I missed a few terrible balls.

“I managed to dig in, but Mark produced a great break in the final frame. He’s got fantastic bottle and he showed it.”

Triple Masters champion Selby overcame an unwanted distraction in the crowd as he cruised into the quarter-finals with victory over Milkins.

The Leicester player was leading 3-0 but surprisingly missed a routine pot on a red ball after a noise in the crowd distracted him while down on the shot. A clearly frustrated Selby swung his cue in mid-air to show his annoyance.

BBC commentator Ken Doherty said: “That’s unusual, you don’t normally see Mark Selby react like that.”

However, breaks of 119, 63 and 53 helped Selby, 40, race into a commanding 4-0 interval lead.

Milkins responded with an 88 break after his opponent had squandered a decent chance to forge further ahead.

But Selby need just half an hour more to secure his progress thanks to run of 74 and 70.

“My head blew up for the first time in a while,” he said.

“Just I was about to hit the ball somebody dropped a knife and fork in the [corporate hospitality] Century Club and it put me off. My head exploded for about 10 seconds.

“But I feel like my game’s in good shape, I’m confident with the way I’m playing.”

Ronnie Sullivan resumes his quest for a record-extending eighth Masters crown against Barry Hawkins, a two-time Masters finalist, on Thursday afternoon.

It will be the world number one’s 25th Masters quarter-final as he looks to win the title for the first time since 2017 when he beat compatriot Joe Perry 10-7 in the final.

O’Sullivan won an eighth UK Championship title in December last year and is now focused on achieving the same feat at the Masters and this year’s World Championship in Sheffield.

“It was nice when I had seven, seven, seven, and now I’ve got seven, seven, eight,” said the 48-year-old. “So it’d be nice to go eight, eight, eight – the three eights.

“I suppose that’s the sort of motivational thing to try to get another Masters, try and maybe get another Worlds.

“I said I was happy with one World Championship, one UK, one Masters – I’m over the moon.

“So, when we start talking about going beyond that, I sort of just see everything as just a bonus really. A nice bit of icing on the cake.

“Eight, eight, eight – let’s go for it.”