Higgins vs Allen

celticfc

This is a steam rollering if ever I seen one, 13-3 after the second session (6-2 in the first, 7-1 in the second).

I think Mark Allen has made it in to the school of hard knocks snooker. To be fair when Higgins turned it on thismorning all the luck in the following frames came with him (It's always the way).

If John even ties the next session 4-4 (@ 7pm tonight) they will not have to play the last session on saturday. Heck, if he take the first four frames of tonights session they wont even get to the mid-session interval.

How much of a great help would that be to his preparation for sunday & mondays final having a day off (especially seeing as Murphy & Robertson have to play two sessions on saturday (10am and 7pm).

Glenman

yea, looks like Higgins will have the day off tomorrow but I hope that Allen can win tonights session and take it into the fourth session. Looks like Robertson & Murphy could go all the way....Higgins a strong favourite for the title now although I picked Murphy to win in the vote.

Permabear

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Aaron M

donegalfella wrote: »

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Big time. Let's not forget that when Selby managed to get it back to 14-13, Higgins won the next four frames in a row to clinch the title. He's one of the few players that can genuinely raise their game when the pressure is on.

celticfc

Aaron M wrote: »

He's one of the few players that can genuinely raise their game when the pressure is on.

It's really freaky how he does it. It's like it's something he's actually worked on becoming good at, because in recent years he has become known for it. It's like his reserve plan for when he comes stuck.

spongeman

With a 95% pot completion rate what can you say?

It will probably be over tonight.

aarymark

did anyone read the mirror today allen came across as a right prick dissen our ken like that

spongeman

And hes playing like one as well.

Permabear

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omb0wyn5ehpij9

Allen did well to come back the way he did today. Unfortunatly I can't see him making enough of a comeback tomorrow

Dave147

Bryn wrote: »

Allen did well to come back the way he did tomorrow. Unfortunatly I can't see him making enough of a comeback tomorrow

How can you see into the future??

Aaron M

aarymark wrote: »

did anyone read the mirror today allen came across as a right prick dissen our ken like that

I didn't read it. What exactly is he reported to have said (I say 'reported' because I wouldn't believe anything I read in those rags anyway)?

omb0wyn5ehpij9

Dave147 wrote: »

How can you see into the future??

Whoops. Quiet u

ArmaniJeanss

Aaron M wrote: »

I didn't read it. What exactly is he reported to have said (I say 'reported' because I wouldn't believe anything I read in those rags anyway)?

In fairness the Ken Doherty stuff is fairly well known, so the rest of it may be true as well.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/more-sport/2009/05/01/i-was-like-hurricane-without-the-booze-115875-21322583/

*********************
Reformed hellraiser Mark Allen admits his antics were so bad he became "like Alex Higgins without the drink".

The 23-year-old potter is bidding to become the first man from Northern Ireland to clinch the Betfred.com World Championship since Dennis Taylor in 1985.

But Allen, who put out Ronnie O'Sullivan last week, confessed he is also trying to live down the hairtrigger temper that makes him more like another of Ulster's famous sons - Higgins.

The hugely likeable left-hander currently facing John Higgins in the semi-finals, said: "I'd be the first to admit I didn't have the best head on my shoulders when I was younger.

"What was I like? Where do I start.

Banging my cue, banging the table, and telling people where to go. A bit like Alex Higgins, I suppose, only without the drink.

"It got pretty bad when I was younger, and I got banned from the Northern Ireland team to go to Pontins because of my behaviour.

"It was a home international against the Republic of Ireland, I think in 2001 when I was 15, and I got banned for not showing respect to my opponent." 'Hurricane' Higgins reached four finals of the World Championship and lifted the trophy in 1972 and 1982. But his brilliance was tarnished by his volatile temper which landed him in fights and arguments.

He was banned from snooker for a year after head-butting an official at the UK Championships in 1986.

He was also banned for a season after punching official Colin Randle at the 1990 World Championship and threatening to have countryman, now BBC pundit, Taylor "shot".

While Allen's scrapes have not been quite so serious, he was branded "a disgrace" by Irishman Ken Doherty after an incident at the 2007 Aberdeen Grand Prix.

During a match between the pair Allen was told by the referee that he would receive an official warning if he did not curb his behaviour.

Allen's response was: 'Well f*****g warn me then!'. In the post-match press conference the normally mildmannered Doherty launched into a savage criticism of Allen, insisting the youngster needed to "grow up".

Allen, who had put Doherty out of the World Championship earlier that year, insisted the 1997 Champion was simply a bad loser.

Permabear

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Aaron M

Cheers for the link. Not much there really, Allen admits himself he was a prick when he was younger. I wouldn't hold that against him - sometimes players just need to learn to grow up a bit (just like Ken said ).

SlickRic

what was Higgins doing there?

he'll throw this away if he's not careful.

EDIT: that was painful for Mark. well played though. a hell of a performance.

Dave!

Well done to Mark Allen. He had no right to be getting that far and giving Higgins such a battle today. He comes across as a nice chap with a good head on his shoulders. Hope he wins it some day.

SlickRic

Dave! wrote: »

Well done to Mark Allen. He had no right to be getting that far and giving Higgins such a battle today. He comes across as a nice chap with a good head on his shoulders. Hope he wins it some day.

i said in the predictions thread a few days back that I don't like him at all since his apparent smugness after losing 10-9 to Hendry in this tournament a couple of years back.

i'm happy to have been proved wrong this week. looks a model pro now, and a very nice guy indeed.

celticfc

Well done to Mark, most would have thrown in the towel.

John FTW.

Aaron M

SlickRic wrote: »

i said in the predictions thread a few days back that I don't like him at all since his apparent smugness after losing 10-9 to Hendry in this tournament a couple of years back.

i'm happy to have been proved wrong this week. looks a model pro now, and a very nice guy indeed.

+1. He showed a lot of character coming back the way he did. He'll have made a lot of new fans during this tournament.

pathway33

Aaron M wrote: »

+1. He showed a lot of character coming back the way he did. He'll have made a lot of new fans during this tournament.

+1 new fan here. Thought the fact he did the interview less than 5 minutes after missing that blue spoke volumes. incredibly controlled in that interview. many would have stormed into the dressing room banging doors. did neil robertson do an interview last night?

Dave!

pathway33 wrote: »

+1 new fan here. Thought the fact he did the interview less than 5 minutes after missing that blue spoke volumes. incredibly controlled in that interview. many would have stormed into the dressing room banging doors. did neil robertson do an interview last night?

I would probably have been fighting back tears in that situation. He appeared very calm, and rightfully he was proud of how far he got and how he performed. The experience will help him next year.

Dunno if Neil gave an interview, I suspect he did, they usually do don't they?