By World Snooker Tour

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Mark Allen brushed aside David Lilley 5-0 at the Machineseeker German Masters in Berlin, but afterwards admitted he is already setting his sights on ending the season as World Champion.

Full Results 

The Pistol is chasing an elusive Crucible Crown, having otherwise completed the Triple Crown set with victories at the Masters in 2018 and the UK Championship in 2022. He says the rest of his season is now completely structured around mounting a title tilt in Sheffield this April. 

In the meantime, breaks of 74 and 71 helped him to get over the line this afternoon. Victory sets up an intriguing last 32 meeting with Wu Yize, who thrashed Jackson Page 5-1. 

Allen said: "Wu has a massive future and he's been in two finals. The sky is the limit with him, but It has happened so many times with young prospects from China. They show promise and have a lot of pressure which they haven't dealt with very well. It will be interesting to see how he does, because he is definitely exciting for the sport.

"To be honest, all eyes are on Sheffield for me now. It has been that way for a while. I'm starting doing longer matches when practising. Not taking anything away from the events leading up, but I'll be experimenting here and there to see if I can get something to work. 

"I am trying something very different this year. I am trying to find something that I believe will work in Sheffield. I've gone there with lots of confidence off the back of winning tournaments and not done well. I feel like I need something that will last me for 17 days and I haven't had that before."

Switzerland's Alexander Ursenbacher scored a massive 5-3 win over Jack Lisowski, as he steps up his bid for tour survival. 

Next up for Ursenbacher is a last 32 meeting with former German Masters winner Ali Carter. After today's win was secure, he clenched his fist and received a big ovation from the Berlin crowd. It was a moment which Ursenbacher savoured. 

Ursenbacher said: "I've got so many supporters here. I just thought that at some point a German speaking player had to win a match here. It was a big goal for me. There was a lot of motivation behind it and Jack is obviously a fantastic player. I think sometimes he is a bit too quick. That is the way he plays, but I think I took advantage. In the first frame I couldn't feel my bones. I was scared to hit the white and everything was shaking. The second and third frame I felt alright. 

"Pressure is just an illusion. It is there but it isn't real. We make it up in our minds. I walked in here a few days ago with nobody here and I felt cool. Today, because there are people sitting there I was shaking and could barely walk. It becomes easier. It never goes away but I'm trying to deal with it."

Ursenbacher On Tour Survival

World number 59 Aaron Hill summoned a superb 115 in the decisive frame to beat three-time World Champion Mark Williams 5-2. 

The Irishman has had an underwhelming campaign thus far, but today's win puts him in the last 32 of a full format ranking event for the first time this term. 

"I'm delighted, especially the way I finished off in one visit. It is great to beat someone like Mark Williams," said 22-year-old Hill. 

"It was only a couple of years ago I was dreaming of playing in venues like this. It was always a goal of mine to qualify for this event, because it is such a unique venue with good crowds. They gave me great support there and it was a great feeling."

England's four-time World Champion Mark Selby scored a 5-2 win over Liu Hongyu to progress, while Belgium's 2023 Crucible King Luca Brecel won 5-2 against Jiang Jun.