Mark Allen beats John Higgins to reach Tour Championship quarter-finals in Manchester

Mark Allen showed his class as he battled past John Higgins in a thrilling encounter to reach the quarter-finals of the Tour Championship in Manchester. The Northern Irishman came from behind to secure a hard-fought 10-7 victory over the Scottish veteran.

Higgins started strongly, taking a 4-1 lead in the opening session. However, Allen fought back with a superb 123 break to level the match. The two players traded frames, with Allen’s impressive century breaks helping him pull away from Higgins.

In a post-match interview, Allen admitted that he was hanging in there at the start but was pleased to come out of the earlier session tied at 4-4. He highlighted the fine margins in such matches and credited his success to winning crucial frames on the black.

The match was played in front of a healthy crowd in central Manchester, with Allen delivering a composed performance to secure the win. He capitalized on Higgins’ mistakes, including winning three frames decided on the black.

In other matches, Mark Williams established a narrow lead over Tom Ford, while Gary Wilson also took a slim advantage over Mark Selby. Both matches showcased high-quality snooker, with Williams and Wilson displaying their scoring prowess.

The Tour Championship continues with exciting matchups, including Allen facing Ding Junhui in the quarter-finals. Snooker fans can expect more thrilling action as the tournament progresses in Manchester.