John Higgins and Mark Allen have secured their places in the last-16 clash at the German Masters following third-round victories at the Tempodrom in Berlin. Higgins emerged triumphant against China’s Zhou Yuelong with a 5-3 victory, fueled by composed breaks of 89 and 97. The four-time world champion, boasting 31 ranking titles but without silverware for nearly three years, reflected on his earlier career, aiming to recapture the stubbornness that contributed to his success.
Higgins shared, “I am trying to work out what I did earlier on in my career. I think the word is that I was maybe more stubborn. I’m trying to get back to that and give myself a chance of winning.” He acknowledged the need for a focused approach, emphasizing the importance of not divulging too much about his feelings in the competitive arena.
Meanwhile, Northern Ireland’s Allen secured a hard-fought 5-2 victory over Joe O’Connor, with the first four frames consuming nearly two hours. After the mid-session break, Allen regained his form, claiming three consecutive frames for the win. Judd Trump demonstrated exceptional form, overpowering Matthew Selt 5-2 with breaks of 66, 97, 118, and 73.
Defending champion Ali Carter triumphed over China’s Pang Junxu 5-2, setting up a clash with Zak Surety, who reached the last 16 of a ranking event for the first time by defeating Elliot Slessor 5-2. Julian Leclercq from Belgium dominated former Welsh Open champion Jordan Brown with a 5-1 victory.
In earlier sessions, Kyren Wilson impressed with a 5-1 victory over fellow Englishman Ben Woollaston, showcasing breaks of 96, 129, 53, and 67. Mark Davis also secured a 5-1 win against Barry Hawkins. Additional third-round victories were achieved by David Lilley and Ryan Day, the latter beating current Welsh Open champion Robert Milkins 5-1.
