“I had greater than sufficient possibilities to win it and credit score to John, he does what John does and clears up within the deciding body.
“I’ve solely myself responsible. I had loads of possibilities and simply did not take them.”
Allen, who reached the World Championship semi-finals final yr, got here to the Crucible on the finish of a formidable marketing campaign that has seen him win three titles.
However whereas the 38-year-old is left to replicate on extra disappointment on the sport’s showpiece occasion, four-time champion Higgins can stay up for a quarter-final in opposition to Kyren Wilson.
And Allen believes Higgins – who final received a rating title three years in the past – nonetheless has it in him to say a fifth World title, 13 years after his fourth.
“He is one of many good guys on tour,” Allen mentioned of Higgins.
“I’ve mentioned that for an extended, very long time. He is extremely aggressive. He desires to win and clearly desires to get again into the highest 16.
“However there’s greater and higher issues forward for John Higgins if he believes himself as a result of he is one of many few who can go on and win this event.
“There’s solely a pair I imagine who can win it and he is one in every of them.”
