“I had greater than sufficient probabilities to win it and credit score to John, he does what John does and clears up within the deciding body.
“I’ve solely myself accountable. I had loads of probabilities 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 powerful marketing campaign that has seen him win three titles.
However whereas the 38-year-old is left to mirror on extra disappointment on the sport’s showpiece occasion, four-time champion Higgins can sit up for a quarter-final towards Kyren Wilson.
And Allen believes Higgins – who final gained 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 stated of Higgins.
“I’ve stated that for an extended, very long time. He is extremely aggressive. He needs to win and clearly needs 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 match.
“There’s solely a pair I imagine who can win it and he is considered one of them.”