World Snooker Championship: John Higgins and Mark Allen finish opening session all level in last-16 clash
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Updated 27/04/2024 at 19:33 GMT
John Higgins and Mark Allen are all square at 4-4 after the first session of their World Snooker Championship contest. Higgins and Allen shared the four frames before the first interval, and it was a similar scenario after the break. Higgins took the final frame to draw level. Stream top snooker action, including the World Snooker Championship, live on Eurosport and discovery+
A peach’ - Higgins rolls in superb long red
John Higgins won the final frame of the afternoon to secure a share of the opening session at 4-4 with Mark Allen in their last-16 clash at the World Championship.
Higgins struggled from long range, while Allen’s cue-ball control was lacking at times, and the contest failed to catch fire.
While the fireworks were lacking, there was plenty of tension as both battled hard in the first of three sessions.
The pair will return on Sunday afternoon for their second session.
The contest kicked off with Allen inheriting a table that had the look of a practice session, with reds spread invitingly and high-value colours available.
Despite making hard work of the break - and almost missing a blue - Allen knocked in his 47th century of the season, a run of 119, to get his nose in front.
Allen had chances in the second, but lost the cue ball on each occasion, and a mistake on the final red allowed Higgins to draw level.
Higgins revealed after his win over Jamie Jones in the first round that he had arrived at the Crucible armed with a new cue.
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John Higgins lines up a shot during day eight of the Cazoo World Snooker Championship
Image credit: Getty Images
The way Higgins stroked in a long red at the start of the third frame and went on to make 73 suggested it felt good in his hands. It proved to be one of few pots from range that he was able to knock in.
There was pressure on Higgins, as only a win would be enough for the four-time world champion to retain his place in the top 16, and there were signs of nerves as he missed a makeable red to the right middle and Allen cashed in to draw level at the interval.
Higgins looked jittery in the frame after the interval, and a poor miss was punished as Allen made a run of 79 to move back in front.
Allen has made a hugely successful career in recent seasons on the back of a circumspect approach, shunning tough shots in favour of patience.
Trailing by 11 points on the brown in the sixth frame, it came as a surprise when Allen went for a tough pot to the green pocket. It did not drop and Higgins punished the error to draw level.
Higgins walked away from the table scratching his head after missing a red by a distance at the start of the seventh, with his misery compounded by leaving Allen an easy starter. The world No. 3 went on to make 65 and that proved enough to take him back in front.
The final frame of the session had a big feel to it - even at this early juncture in the clash - and it went Higgins’ way.
Allen had a chance to take it after Higgins saw a red hit the jaws of the left middle, but he missed a blue to the green pocket and his opponent held firm to draw level at 4-4.
Jones battles past Si
Jak Jones will be Judd Trump’s quarter-final opponent after he secured a 13-9 win over Si Jiahui.
Jones led by five frames after taking the opening two of the final session but things got a little nervy when Si won five out of six mid-way through the afternoon.
But Jones steadied the nerves when taking the 18th and wrapped up the win two frames later.
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