Nonetheless, after admitting “he overpowered me” as he then misplaced 13-8 to Twelfth-seeded Englishman Kyren Wilson, Higgins advised BBC Sport: “I am enthusiastic as a result of I believe I’ve obtained a pleasant piece of wooden that I believe I can go into the brand new season feeling loads happier with.”
Higgins urged “it was a little bit of a stretch” enjoying with it on the Crucible contemplating it was the primary time in a match 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 sport, however Higgins is “committing to enjoying snooker now and I am committing to clearly attempting to get again right here”.
The thirteenth seed burdened: “I do not need that to be my closing match on the Crucible. I will nonetheless be enjoying snooker.”
Higgins had crushed Wilson thrice beforehand, together with 13-2 on the Crucible final 12 months, however advised his opponent it was “the very best 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 received. He was by far the higher participant there.
“My mind was somewhat bit fried. I used to be actually torpid within the second session and, to get out at 9-7, I assumed I had received the lottery, however there have been simply little photographs that you just can’t afford to make at that degree when somebody’s enjoying at that degree.”