Mark Allen “sabotaged his own ability” to miss out on a place in the UK Snooker Championship, according to a multiple world champion.
The Northern Irishman led 4-2 and 5-4 against Barry Hawkins, but missed out on a place in the December 1 final against number one seed Judd Trump – who knocked out Wishaw’s John Higgins earlier in the competition – with Allen’s slow play questioned by BBC expert Steve Davis. Allen himself meanwhile admitted that the better man won, and accepted that only his determination had kept him in the tie, which didn’t finish until almost 1am.
But BBC pundit Davis, a six-time world champion, believes the world number three caused his own problems, saying: “It’s tough sometimes playing this game and it does feel like both players are dragging each other down a bit. And it’s just sometimes the balls go his (Allen’s) way. But there are question marks on whether Mark Allen is slightly sabotaging his own ability by playing a little bit slowly, and maybe Barry Hawkins is trying to get free and get a bit of rhythm going. I don’t think either player is really relaxed out there.”
Hawkins seemed to take a shot at Allen’s slow play in his own post-match interview, saying that he believes that his match against Trump, who breezed beyond reigning world champion Kyren Wilson 6-2, will be a much faster affair. “I just kept trying my hardest,” the 45-year-old told Eurosport. “I’ve not had a good record here over the years. Finally, getting to the final is amazing. I’ve rode my luck here.
“I could have been out against Dave Gilbert and then tonight. Judd is a different kind of player, no disrespect to Mark, but it will be a free-flowing match, and it will be amazing to play Judd again. He is an all-time great.”
Allen meanwhile made no excuses – but admitted the exit was tough to stomach. He said: “I got what I deserved in the end. I didn’t take advantage of the chances I had, and I had quite a few. It’s agonising because I got so close, despite playing poorly. “Barry was the better player tonight. Only my grit and determination gave me a chance towards the end, but the right person won.
“Losing any Triple Crown semi-final is always hard to take but I think I’ve turned the corner this week. It’s disappointing now, but there are plenty of positives.”