Mark Allen put on a stunning display in the final session to give himself a fighting chance of overcoming John Higgins and reaching the World Championship final at the Crucible. The 23-year-old from Northern Ireland trailed 13-3 going into the evening session, but won six of the eight frames on offer to leave the game 15-9 in Higgins' favour going into the final session on Saturday.

Higgins had pulled away from Allen during the afternoon as the 33-year-old Scot won seven of eight frames in the session to surge 13–3 clear, making two centuries in the process.

His display suggested he might finish the match in tonight's third session, but Allen responded as well as he could have imagined to take ensure their contest goes the distance.

Allen, the man who knocked out Ronnie O'Sullivan in the second round, looked to be struggling and could not repeat his early form as Higgins took the opening two frames of the morning following breaks of 127 and 66.

The champion of 1998 and 2007 had led 6–2 after winning the final three frames yesterday afternoon and made a good start today with his first-frame century.

Higgins, seeking a third world title, then added the next and moved seven frames clear on the back of a break of 43 and a near-perfect snooker in the 11th frame which left his Northern Irish opponent in a dire position.

Following the mid-session interval Higgins was again in good form, taking the first frame before Allen got off the mark for the day by registering a break of 103.

It was to prove to be only temporary respite, however, as Higgins took the final two frames of the session to establish a lead that suggested he would wrap the game up in the evening session, but Allen went on to prove that he is made of stern stuff.