MARK Allen was left to reflect on missed opportunities as a World title dream slipped from his grasp for another year.
The Antrim man had led John Higgins 12-11 in the final session of Monday evening’s thrilling second-round clash at the Crucible, and despite Higgins forcing a decider, Allen still looked set for victory with a 62-0 lead.
However, a missed red with the rest gave the Scot a glimmer of hope and after a superb cross-double red he seized it with both hands to progress to a quarter-final against Kyren Wilson.
While Higgins trailed the Englishman 5-3 after Tuesday afternoon’s first session, Allen’s thoughts turned to those missed chances and to an anxious wait to see if he can hang on to his provisional number one world ranking between now and Monday evening.
Judd Trump, who finished the second session of his quarter-final against Jak Jones on Tuesday evening level at 8-8, can leapfrog the Antrim man if he reaches the final, while Ronnie O’Sulivan can too if he wins his eighth title.
Allen said: “Credit to John, it was a great clearance. But I didn’t lose it in the last frame, I lost it earlier in the match because I had so many chances to go further ahead. I could have won around 13-7 if I had taken those chances. It’s one that got away.
“As soon as John got the double I knew he was going to clear up. He is one of the very few players who can make a break like that. He should give himself a massive pat on the back for that and he should believe he can go on and win this now.”
