Allen edges Higgins to reach Masters quarters

Mark Allen kept his hopes of winning a second Masters title alive with a fine 6-5 comeback victory over John Higgins.

Northern Ireland's Allen rallied from 3-1 down to win a thrilling final-frame decider and secure a place in the quarter-finals at Alexandra Palace.

"We were both very edgy, that's a big hurdle for me," he told BBC Sport.

The 2018 Masters champion will now play either Mark Selby, a triple Masters champion, or Robert Milkins on Friday night.

Allen, 37, added: "It wasn't the normal match between me and John, it was a bit scrappy and balls were missed.

"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," said Allen.

"I missed two really tricky shots, so I was just looking forward to the decider and to hopefully getting the chance.

"When John missed a long red at the start and got away with it, I was fearing the worst.

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

Double Masters champion Higgins last won the title 18 years ago and was understandably hungry to end his forgettable barren run at snooker's most prestigious invitational tournament.

The 48-year-old Scot won a scrappy opening framing before Allen fluked the final black to level matters.

Breaks of 83 and 80 saw Higgins lead 3-1 at the interval, but the four-time world champion missed a decent chance to open up a three-frame cushion - and that gave Allen the opportunity to fight back.

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."

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."

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