Allen Sets Up O’Sullivan Final
Mark Allen will face Ronnie O’Sullivan in the final of the 2018 Betway UK Championship after the Northern Irishman defeated Stuart Bingham 6-5 in a thrilling last four clash in York.
The Pistol has enjoyed great success at snooker’s Triple Crown events in 2018. He will now have appeared in two of the three Triple Crown finals this calendar year. Allen secured the best moment of his career so far by beating Kyren Wilson 10-7 in the Masters final back in January.
This will be the second time that Allen has graced the UK final, after being runner-up to Judd Trump in a memorable clash in 2011.
Allen faces the daunting task of downing defending champion O’Sullivan tomorrow, who has won 26 of his last 27 matches here in York. However, 32-year-old Allen has had the upper hand in their Triple Crown head-to-head record, having won all three of their meetings to date.
2015 World Champion Bingham was making his third appearance in a UK Championship semi-final this evening. However, he is yet to make the final having lost all three of his semi-final matches in York.
Despite Allen taking the opening frame with a break of 99, it was Bingham who took charge in the opening stages. He claimed three frames on the bounce to secure a 3-1 lead at the mid-session interval.
They traded century breaks when they returned. Allen fired in a run of 104 to move within a frame, before Bingham reasserted his authority with a sublime 132 to lead 4-2.
Bingham then spurned opportunities to hammer home his advantage in the seventh frame, allowing Allen in to steal it on the final pink.
Two breaks of 54 in consecutive frames helped Allen to move 5-4 in front. However, Bingham forced a decider and high drama ensued.
The recent English Open champion Bingham was dealt two major blows, going in-off on twice when potting reds. That afforded Allen the opportunity to book his second UK final appearance with a break of 64.
Allen said: “There is nobody in the sport that I haven’t beat, so there is nothing to fear in that way. It has always been my own performance that worries me the most. I want to go out there and entertain like every other top player does. This week it has been more grit and determination that has got me through.
“I’m looking forward to the final. This is why we play the game. You want to face the greatest ever on the biggest stage. The UK final is a pretty big stage. I’m excited, I’m looking forward to it and I have an alright record against Ronnie.
“You are going to be judged in your career on how many Triple Crown events you have won. I just have one at the moment so I have a long way to go if I want to be regarded as a top player in the history of the sport, but I’m just excited to have the chance to win another.”