Masters snooker results: Luca Brecel beats Mark Allen as John Higgins crashes out

By Richard Mann

Snooker

Mon January 14, 2019 · 6y ago

A review of Sunday's snooker action at the Masters, as defending champion Mark Allen and John Higgins both crashed out in the opening round.

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Luca Brecel produced an early shock on the opening day of the Dafabet Masters as he beat defending champion Mark Allen 6-5.

Allen will have held high hopes of defending his crown having enjoyed a strong first half of the season, ending 2018 with a run to the final of the UK Championship before winning the Scottish Open the following week.

However, Brecel shrugged off his own disappointing start to the campaign by producing a fabulous display which helped him run out a deserved winner.

He's done it!

Brecel wins a titanic clash and he's knocked out the defending champion!#DafabetMasters pic.twitter.com/fSSpSzv4wt
— Eurosport UK (@Eurosport_UK) January 13, 2019

Brecel raced into a 3-1 lead at the mid-session interval thanks to breaks of 75 and 50 but Allen soon roared back, levelling the scores with contributions of 96 and a stunning clearance of 136.

A brilliant century of his own - this time 140 - allowed Brecel get his head back in front at 4-3 before more impressive break-building saw the pair trade the next two frames.

Allen took the match to a decider by winning frame 10 with a run of 99 but Brecel wasn't to be denied.

A fearless long red opened the door for a break of 58 and although he couldn't seal the deal in one visit, he was celebrating one of the biggest wins of his career only moments later.

(video no longer available)

Day downs Higgins

Dual Masters winner John Higgins saw his bid curtailed at the first hurdle as he lost 6-5 to Ryan Day.

Higgins led 3-1 at the mid-session interval with Day guilty of wasting golden opportunities in frames one and four but the Welshman hit back upon the resumption, winning the next three frames thanks to breaks of 52, 111 and 83 to lead 4-3.

Day looked sure to go 5-3 in front until Higgins clawed his way back into the match at 4-4 before Day went in front again when pulling off brilliant pots on the final pink and black to pinch a nervy frame nine.

Brilliant.@ryan23day is one away!#DafabetMasters pic.twitter.com/j3lXxmBPHW
— World Snooker (@WorldSnooker) January 13, 2019

Higgins came back once more, forcing the match into a decider, but Day sunk a terrific opening red before clearing the table with a wonderful total clearance of 128 to book his place in the quarter-finals.