Mark Allen completed an impressive comeback to beat John Higgins 10-7 in the first round at the 2024 Tour Championship in Manchester. The match started with Allen fighting back from a 4-1 deficit, ultimately finishing strongly to set up a quarter-final showdown with Ding Junhui. Both players showed moments of quality in the first session as they battled for the upper hand in the best-of-19 frame clash. Allen initially took the lead with a break of 69, but Higgins responded with breaks of 85 and 75 to move ahead. Despite Higgins’ early lead, Allen’s grittiness shone through as he kept fighting and managed to reduce the deficit to two frames.
In the evening session, Allen continued his momentum by winning the ninth frame in one visit. The players traded frames back and forth, with Higgins levelling the encounter at 5-5 with a break of 82. Allen then took the lead with a 102 break and managed to secure a two-frame buffer as Higgins struggled to pot a pink from distance. Despite Higgins’ efforts to narrow the gap, an unfortunate penalty for brushing the green with his sleeve gave Allen the advantage in the 16th frame. Allen took advantage of the opportunity, securing the win with his third century of the day and setting up a quarter-final clash against Ding Junhui.
On the other table, Gary Wilson displayed sublime form as he opened up a 5-3 lead over Mark Selby in their first-round match. Wilson made impressive breaks of 95, 98, 78, and 101 to put himself in the lead against the four-time world champion. Selby had initially led 2-1 in the all-English clash, but Wilson managed to turn the tide and reel off four frames in a row to take control. Despite a missed opportunity to extend his lead, Wilson maintained his advantage, setting himself up for a strong position going into the next session.
In another match, Mark Williams held a 5-3 advantage over Tom Ford after their first session. Williams quickly raced into a 3-0 lead, with Ford responding with a superb run of 114 to get on the scoreboard. Williams continued to maintain his advantage with breaks of 76, but Ford fought back with breaks of 73 and 136 to close the gap to just one frame. Ultimately, Williams was able to secure a 5-3 lead after an 86 break in the eighth frame. Overall, the first-round matches at the Tour Championship showcased impressive performances and exciting comebacks, setting the stage for thrilling quarter-final clashes to come.
