John Higgins pulled off an all-time great comeback against Mark Allen on Monday night to progress to the quarter-finals of the World Snooker Championship.
The Scot faced an uphill battle, trailing 10-7 against Northern Irishman Allen in Monday's evening session. The afternoon session had been disrupted as a fan was ejected for shouting at Allen from the stands.
As the evening play progressed, Higgins showed terrific mettle to tie things up at 10-10, and the pair went tit-for-tat across the following four frames.
The four-time world champion would then claim victory in the most dramatic of fashion with a sensational match-winning break in the final frame to complete a memorable comeback - which he went on to dedicate to his mother in a heartwarming interview with the BBC.
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John Higgins says all-timer comeback was a birthday present for his mum
Having already fought back from 10-7 down in frames, John Higgins found himself 62-0 down in the deciding 25th frame and in need of pulling out a special finish to claim victory.
That is exactly what the 48-year-old delivered, with a sequence of outstanding pots clearing Allen and sending him through to the last eight.
There's Crucible drama then there's this!
John Higgins was 62-0 down in the deciding frame against Mark Allen and then pulled these magic pots out of the bag in a match-winning break... pic.twitter.com/pXuZXdXM4j— Chris Hammer (@ChrisHammer180) April 29, 2024
Higgins was visibly emotional after the conclusion of Monday's match, as he pulled out one of his best-ever victories under immense pressure at the Crucible.
It has been over two years since the Scot reached a ranking final, and the relief of progressing to the latter stages of the World Championship was palpable.
After an outstanding last-16 tie, Higgins and Mark Allen shared a warm embrace, with Higgins seemingly blown away by his own comeback.
Speaking to the BBC after the game, the emotion was still visible on Higgins face as he admitted that the past few years had piled pressure on his shoulders.
Lovely interview with John Higgins, who strolls in after one of the finest Crucible clearances ever and talks you through those pots, the pressure and what it means after a tough time in his career.
He also reveals it was the best possible birthday present for his mum! pic.twitter.com/BsPuQ4VVjT— Chris Hammer (@ChrisHammer180) April 30, 2024
Higgins said that he felt Monday's victory might have been the best of his entire career due to the years of disappointment that had preceded it, and felt he had sent a message with his resilience.
It probably [was] the best. I think the best when I think of everything that I've went through the last couple of years. When you've been falling at the hurdles and different things...to do that under the biggest pressure, it actually felt great.
I'm thinking, 'I've got to go for the double!' I'm used to going for the double, I've missed plenty, but I says, 'I'm going for it because, if I get it, there's a sneaky chance.'
He's a gentleman, Mark. He's going to be absolutely devastated to lose that way, but he said nice words. Yeah, I got emotional.
I'm pretty good under pressure. Maybe people in the last couple of years were probably thinking I'm not - but I can still hold it together in these pressure moments!
Higgins would close with a heartwarming message to his mother.
It's my mum's birthday tomorrow so happy birthday mum! I thought that was a good wee birthday present for my mum.
After the disappointment of his defeat, Mark Allen was gracious and said that he believed Higgins was one of the few who could go on and win the World Snooker Championship from this point:
He's one of the good guys on tour, I've said that for a long, long time. He's ultra competitive. He wants to win and obviously wants to get back into the top 16.
But there's bigger and better things ahead for John Higgins if he believes himself because he's one of the few who can go on and win this tournament.
There's only a couple I believe who can win it and he's one of them.
John Higgins goes on to face Kyren Wilson in the quarter-finals, with their tie set to get underway on Wednesday.
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