We’re a week into the drama at the World Championship, and the pressure is getting to some of those on the famous green baize…
Robert Milkins cut a sour figure as he lost his temper in losing 13-4 to David Gilbert, who became the first man into the quarter-finals this year.
Let’s take a closer look at the Day 8 action.
Mark Allen to beat John Higgins
Things seem to be falling in line for Mark Allen.
The world number three didn’t have too many problems negating Robbie Williams’s threat in the opening round, and after a disappointing run at the Crucible in previous years, “Pistol” enters the second round as a favourite.
And he’s got a very favourable record against veteran John Higgins in recent meetings.
Allen leads 15-13 overall and 7-4 in their last eleven meetings, and with Higgins off the boil in 2024, Allen will smell blood on Saturday afternoon.
Still, Higgins will often turn up in the big events underlining his four World Championships, but Allen is playing too well to let any mistakes from the “Wizard” go unpunished.
Jack Lisowski -2.5 handicap vs Stuart Bingham
If the first round is anything to go by, Jack Lisowski has finally broken his Crucible hoodoo.
The 32-year-old has only won one second-round match at the World Championships (vs Neil Robertson in 2022) but comes up against Stuart Bingham, playing some good snooker across the qualifiers and first round.
It’s the most relaxed and confident Lisowski we have seen in Sheffield - perhaps the low ranking for this season has freed up his talented arm.
Stuart Bingham is a man who tends to save his best stuff for the Crucible.
“Ball-run” won here in 2015 and has made the semis and quarters in his last three appearances despite struggling on the Tour.
But Lisowski is one of the best natural players in the sport at the moment and if he can keep his emotions in check, there is a chance he runs away with this one in the second or third session.
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