Northern Ireland’s Mark Allen conquered four-time world champion John Higgins 9-8 in an epic BetVictor Northern Ireland Open final at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast, sending his adoring home fans into raptures.
It’s the sixth ranking title of 2019 Masters champion Allen’s career and it is the first time he has lifted silverware in his home event. Allen’s previous best in the Northern Ireland Open was a run to the quarter-finals in 2016.
An emotional Allen lifted the Alex Higgins Trophy amid a typically passionate atmosphere in Belfast. It is a first ranking title in three years, since the 2018 Scottish Open. He earns £70,000 for his victory, in addition to the £5,000 he will receive for his magical 147 break in the opening round against Si Jiahui.
This evening’s final was the 19th meeting between Allen and Scotland’s 31-time ranking event winner Higgins. They first crossed cues here at the Waterfront Hall in 2005 at the Northern Ireland Trophy, Allen won 4-1 on that occasion. He now leads the head-to-head standings with Higgins 10-9.
The afternoon action saw Allen and Higgins share the opening eight frames, to end 4-4 and leave the match on a knife edge. A cauldron-like atmosphere greeted the players as they entered the Waterfront Hall for tonight for the concluding session.
The pair produced a superb standard of play in the opening stages. Allen took to the front with a break of 70 to move him 5-4 up. Higgins responded immediately with 63 to take the tenth and draw level at 5-5. Allen regained the lead with a run of 85, before Higgins claimed the 12th to head into the mid-session all-square at 6-6.
From there Higgins made the first move with the finishing line coming into sight. Breaks of 64 and 136 saw him get within one from victory at 8-6. However, Allen displayed his considerable resolve to wrest back momentum and keep his title dream alive, by controlling the 15th to make it 8-7.
Higgins then had an opportunity to clinch victory, but missed a tricky black on 31 to allow Allen back to the table. He made 58 and went on to take the frame and force a decider.
With the match in the balance and Higgins leading 31-27, the Scot missed a difficult red to the top left corner and allowed Allen his opportunity for glory. The Pistol fired in a nerveless break of 38 under the utmost pressure to claim the title and send the Waterfront Hall into ecstasy.
Article by WST.