John Higgins will face Mark Allen in a mouth-watering last 16 clash at the BetVictor German Masters, after both players secured third round wins at the Tempodrom on Wednesday.
Higgins ensured his progression with a strong performance to beat China’s Zhou Yuelong 5-3. He looked in good touch this afternoon and composed breaks of 89 and 97 during the win.
The Glaswegian is gunning for a first piece of silverware in nearly three years, having claimed the most recent of his 31 ranking titles at the 2021 Players Championship. However, he has been runner-up in five finals during the intervening years.
After today’s match Higgins admitted he has been seeking a return to the mentality which has made him a four-time World Champion and one of the greatest of all-time.
“I am trying to work out what I did earlier on in my career. I think the word is that I was maybe more stubborn. I’m trying to get back to that and give myself a chance of winning. I can be too honest sometimes and tell people how I’m feeling. You can’t afford to in this game. You have to be totally focussed on your own game and not give an inch out there.”
John Higgins
Four-time World Champion
Higgins added: “Mark is one of the strongest players in the game now. Mentally and on the table, he puts everything into it. That is something you can learn from, to give everything to compete with these guys. That is what I will try and do going forward.”
Allen booked his progression with an edgy, but hard fought, 5-2 win over Joe O’Connor.
The first four frames this afternoon lasted nearly two hours, as they headed to the mid-session level at 2-2. When play resumed, Allen found his form and took three on the bounce to secure victory.
The Northern Irishman has already won two trophies this season, with victories at the Champion of Champions and the BetVictor Shoot Out. He heads into his encounter with Higgins knowing he won an epic contest at the Masters in their most recent meeting 6-5.
Only Higgins and Allen remain in contention to stop Judd Trump winning the £150,000 BetVictor Series bonus with an event to spare, ahead of the upcoming BetVictor Welsh Open.
Trump came through with a 5-2 defeat of Matthew Selt. The Ace in the Pack fired in breaks of 66, 97, 118 and 73 secure victory this evening. Trump now plays quickfire Thai Thepchaiya Un-Nooh.
Defending champion Ali Carter is through to the last 16 after beating China’s Pang Junxu 5-2. He will face Zak Surety, who will appear in the last 16 of a ranking event for the first time. Surety scored a 5-2 win over Elliot Slessor.
Belgian 20-year-old Julian Leclercq booked his last 16 slot with an impressive 5-1 win over former Welsh Open champion Jordan Brown. He faces Ryan Day, who beat current Welsh Open champion Robert Milkins 5-1.