Nonetheless, after admitting “he overpowered me” as he then misplaced 13-8 to Twelfth-seeded Englishman Kyren Wilson, Higgins informed BBC Sport: “I am enthusiastic as a result of I feel I’ve bought a pleasant piece of wooden that I feel I can go into the brand new season feeling so much happier with.”
Higgins steered “it was a little bit of a stretch” taking part in with it on the Crucible contemplating it was the primary time in a event however revealed: “I used to be actually having fun with it on the market.”
His emotional response to defeating Allen had renewed hypothesis about his future within the recreation, however Higgins is “committing to taking part in snooker now and I am committing to clearly making an attempt to get again right here”.
The thirteenth seed pressured: “I do not need that to be my last match on the Crucible. I will nonetheless be taking part in snooker.”
Higgins had crushed Wilson thrice beforehand, together with 13-2 on the Crucible final yr, however informed his opponent it was “the perfect I’ve seen him” because the Englishman progressed to face compatriot David Gilbert, who defeated Scotland’s Stephen Maguire 13-8.
“He was very highly effective and hit the ball implausible,” Higgins added. “The most effective man gained. He was by far the higher participant there.
“My mind was a little bit bit fried. I used to be actually torpid within the second session and, to get out at 9-7, I assumed I had gained the lottery, however there have been simply little pictures that you just can not afford to make at that degree when somebody’s taking part in at that degree.”
