Tour Championship snooker live – Mark Williams sets up Ronnie O'Sullivan final clash after win over battling Mark Allen
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Updated 06/04/2024 at 20:21 GMT
Welcome back to Eurosport's live coverage of the 2024 Tour Championship and it's still semi-final day with the second final four clash taking place on Saturday. It's the battle of the two Marks as Williams takes on Allen for a place in the final. Waiting for them in Sunday's final will be the world No. 1 Ronnie O'Sullivan, who hit three centuries in a 10-7 win over Gary Wilson on Friday.
‘Efficient and ruthless’ - Allen wraps up win over Williams at Welsh Open with century
THANKS FOR JOINING US
Well, what a match that was. Allen made a real fight of it, but Williams steadied the ship superbly to see it out. We will be back at 12:45pm tomorrow with the best-of-19 frame final for the Tour Championship title in Manchester. O'Sullivan v Williams as the 'Class of '92' become the 'Class of '24'. Should be a classic.
Result: Allen 5-10 Williams
"I did a great break there really [to win match]," says Williams. "As good as any I did in the whole match. I just knew I had to make a one-frame visit the way the match was going. I try to get my practice at the venues. I've been playing like that all season. Some of the people have played unbelievable snooker against me this season. If I had a pick to play in the final, it would be O'Sullivan. He's the best player by a mile at a packed venue."
Result: Allen 5-10 Williams
Allen 5-9 Williams (0-75)
And Williams is going to see this out in style. Chance of a fourth century of the semi-final. Not quite. 75 does the job. What a performance to get over the line. No nerves from Willo. Mark Allen offers his handshake, and on goes Williams to face old rival Ronnie O'Sullivan on Sunday.
Allen 5-9 Williams (0-57)
Nothing difficult out there now. Just a question of holding his nerve to get the match won. Heading for a 41st career ranking final. A champion finish when the chips were down.
Allen 5-9 Williams (0-45)
Picking off these balls with some relish as he spins the white into the pack of reds. All reds open delightfully and suddenly a match-winning chance is on the table. Created by his own brilliance.
Allen 5-9 Williams (0-21)
Williams with a blistering long red right off the bat in this frame followed by a pink to right middle. Would like to get this over the line here and now. Brilliant shot on blue before he rams in a straight red. Bang on the black, and this is much, much more like it from Willo.
Allen 4-9 Williams (73-12)
Another frame has been totted up by Allen with a 69 break. Breaks of 65, 53, 79 and 56 from the former UK champion. Halfway up the hill from 9-0 to 9-5. It couldn't happen, could it?
Allen 4-9 Williams (59-12)
Allen really beginning to find some momentum and confidence in his cue arm. This semi-final not yet a done deal. In goes the plant on red, and that could be a frame-winner. Looks very, very sharp. Like Williams was this afternoon.
Allen 4-9 Williams (10-12)
Allen inches away from rolling a red down the table to the green pocket. But red doesn't drop, and suddenly Williams has chance to build a lead, but he breaks down with a screw shot seeing white fly into the let middle bag. Once again, a change in the way the wind is blowing this evening.
Allen 3-9 Williams (81-11)
A 56 break this time from the world No. 3 Allen, who has picked up a fourth straight frame to close to 9-4 behind. Well then. Williams could do with putting this match to bed sooner rather than later.
Allen 3-9 Williams (41-7)
Well, Allen breaks down among the balls, but Williams then flukes a plant on a red trying to run safe. Apology from Williams, who is out of position seconds later. Williams then refusing a straight long red to a top pocket. Struggling for a bit of form here. And Allen responds by carting home a long red that Williams refused. Every chance then for Allen to progress to claim a fourth straight frame.
Allen 3-9 Williams (19-0)
Allen providing some trademark resistance then in reeling off three straight frames before they had a 15-minute break. Willo goes for a long red. Doesn't drop, and suddenly Allen has first go at these reds. The Antrim man has continued to play like this match is close. Which is all credit to him. Is he going to take out a frame in one hit? That would help the situation a bit.
Allen 2-9 Williams (116-1)
Allen well over the line then in this 12th frame. Suddenly enjoying the battle because he's been allowed to play a few shots. Excellent shot to develop the green on the colours. A break of 79 ends with the black being banged in and brings a huge cheer from the fans. Back to 9-3.
Allen 2-9 Williams (48-1)
Poor shot by Williams to leave a red hanging over the right centre bag. And Allen has every chance now to force this match to the mid-session break. Williams has lost focus a bit. Which has helped.
Allen 2-9 Williams (36-1)
Allen certainly trying his best to extend this match as he bangs home a brilliant long blue, but white runs on and just the safety back to baulk. A solid enough 36.
Allen 2-9 Williams (17-1)
Another safety blunder by Williams to stick up a red over a top hole, and suddenly Allen is among them at the business end of the table as he battles to extend this match beyond the mid-session break.
Allen 2-9 Williams (0-1)
Williams prods in a red to right centre early in the frame, but no position on yellow. Willo's concentration levels have waned a bit here. Difficult to stay fully engaged when you are so far clear.
Allen 1-9 Williams (6912)
Another fine contribution from Allen to surely win a second straight frame in this semi-final. A 53 break from Allen as he misses a tough red across the table. Was not easy cueing. That was frame ball. But he makes up for it with a great long red seconds later. And Williams has seen enough. Back to 9-2 adrift.
Allen 1-9 Williams (23-12)
Williams sees a black fly into the yellow pocket after another rare error. Concentration just wandering perhaps. And Allen drops in a fine long red to land on black. Another chance of a heavy break here.
Allen 1-9 Williams (8-9)
Didn't expect to see Williams miss a mid-range red, but it has happened as object ball rattled in the jaws. Crowd trying to urge Allen to keep this match going. Which is easier said than done. A few misses from his opponent would be helpful.
Allen 0-9 Williams (72-1)
A 65 break from Mark Allen is more than enough to get his first frame of the day done and dusted. Well played 'The Pistol'. Just another nine frames like that required.
Allen 0-9 Williams (72-1)
Not too much more needed here. In goes the red he needs to prevent the whitewash. First frame of the day in frame 10.
Allen 0-9 Williams (48-1)
MA forced to do his work with blues at the moment. Continues to fight the good fight in this break. Moves up to 36. A fine effort this in progress.
Allen 0-9 Williams (19-1)
Rare blunder by Williams for once attempting to hole a long red. Chance then for Mark Allen to get hand on table and assemble some sort of lead in the frame. Reds well spread, but pink and black off their spots.
Allen 0-9 Williams (7-1)
So close to a long red for Allen, but he leaves the red for Willo, who knocks in the red with the rest. Williams then ends up knocking in pink from trying to split pack off reds. Decent attempt. Allen with a fine pot on a red, just the fourth frame today he has potted a ball, but nothing to follow. Willo safety game really paying off.
Allen 0-9 Williams (0-0)
Williams is now 1/1000 to win this match. Which are some odds in a two-horse race. Safety has been glorious all day.
Allen 0-8 Williams (0-140)
Doesn't get much better on a snooker table than this. In just eight minutes, Williams compiles 140 for a 9-0 lead in this semi-final. Allen needs to win the next three frames just to extend this match to a mid-session interval. Broke off the ninth frame and sat it out for the rest of the frame. Story of his day.
Allen 0-8 Williams (0-106)
Willo has the white ball on a piece of string. Long red, and he mops up the rest. In goes the black, and there is the century.
Allen 0-8 Williams (0-89)
This just on a different level from Williams. Every chance of a century coming up too. Heading for 9-0 in next few moments.
Allen 0-8 Williams (0-51)
Seems to be in the form of his life, Willo. Definitely of the vintage variety. Every chance of putting this frame to bed in one visit. Knocks a few reds open from blue, and is just slotting balls for fun here.
Allen 0-8 Williams (0-13)
Mark Allen breaks off for the ninth frame of a possible 19. And the evening sesh begins with Willo prodding in another fantastic long red. That is brilliant from the Welshman. Up and running again here right away. Packed house in again this evening.
Welcome back to Manchester
An 8-0 lead for Mark Williams, who needs two more frames this evening to reach the final on Sunday against his old rival Ronnie O'Sullivan. Will there be a comeback victory for Mark Allen? Or will there be a 10-0 whitewash win? WIll we get to the mid-session break? Odds are perhaps on something else happening. Boys on baize at 7pm.
Latest: Allen 0-8 Williams
The semi-final resumes at 7pm. We will be back just before 7pm to see if Mark Allen can mount the mother of all comebacks against an inspired Welsh potting machine Mark Williams, who is on course to meet Ronnie O'Sullivan in what could be an epic final duel on Sunday. Williams and O'Sullivan last met in a final in 2000 at the China Open which O'Sullivan won 9-3. Time moves on, but nothing much changes.
Latest: Allen 0-8 Williams
Is this match a done deal? Dangerous to make premature predictions, but it is difficult to see how Williams won't get the two frames he needs this evening to reach the final. Not playing like this. At peak form today. And a combination of wonderful safety and a strong scoring game was a joy to watch. The three-time world champion with breaks of 59, 99, 105, 112 and 66. Allen consigned to a distant second without doing much wrong.
Allen 0-7 Williams (47-69)
Allen can't keep the pink out of the pocket from a Williams' roll to yellow pocket. Ends up knocking pink off the table. And that prompts the handshake from Allen and a session whitewash is complete. Nobody has won eight straight frames before in this event. Well. Not until today. Mark Williams holds that new record. Simply unplayable at times in that session.
Allen 0-7 Williams (47-63)
Too straight on brown so Willo can only drop it in with the rest. Both players have a dart at the long blue, but not really near the potting angle. So much pressure on Allen from his opponent's tactical game. Another telling safety shot and Allen leaves the blue over the green bag, and Williams does the rest. Surely 8-0 is incoming here.
Allen 0-7 Williams (47-58)
A real tight battle to finish this frame. Allen misses a tough pot on a yellow before Williams sticks Allen tight behind the black moments later. Allen hits the yellow off two cushions, but leaves yellow to left middle. Brown the problem ball. In goes the green, and Williams screws across the table to land on the brown. What a shot that is.
Allen 0-7 Williams (47-49)
Mark Allen then sees a cross double on a red fly into a top bag. Not sure if he played that, but he'll take it. More so now than ever before. Coming down to a safety duel on the final red. Williams almost flukes the red to right middle. Leaves red to green pocket. Which Allen drops in with a fine piece of cueing, but not nicely on a colour. Just the safety to follow.
Allen 0-7 Williams (38-49)
Long red by Williams is floated into a top pocket, but opts for the safety to keep matters tight with three reds still up.
Allen 0-7 Williams (38-48)
Fine pot on a red along the top cushion. That really needed potting, but kept his head still and it wriggles in. But another red to the opposite top pocket doesn't drop at pace. At least he doesn't leave red. Back in the frame with four reds left up.
Allen 0-7 Williams (9-48)
But he misses the mid-range red using the rest on 44 to give Mark Allen a glimmer of hope. Was not easy, but expected him to get it. Allen looking to salvage a frame from this one-sided session.
Allen 0-7 Williams (0-48)
A backswing cough from someone in the crowd, and Williams opts to revisit the shot before knocking in the black. Not ideal. But he recovers well on next red by floating in red to blind centre pocket. Tremendous from Willo. A microcosm of the session really.
Allen 0-7 Williams (0-14)
Some sublime shots being produced by Williams as he flicks the red away from the black to free up black in potting red. That is another majestic piece of snooker skill to do that. Chance is there then for a session whitewash. Would mean he only needs two more frames when they resume this evening. Has been something else this today from Willo.
Allen 0-7 Williams (0-4)
Willo with a break-off shot that sees the white land tight behind the yellow. Williams hasn't defeated Allen for six years before today. Looks like that is about to change. A fan shouts 'Come on Mark', but the Antrim man turns as if to say: 'What can I do here?'
Allen 0-6 Williams (0-84)
A 49 break is more than good enough for Williams to take out another frame with a serene sense of ease. Just three frames shot of the winning line and a final showdown with fellow 'Class of '92' icon Ronnie O'Sullivan on Sunday.
Allen 0-6 Williams (0-60)
Doesn't rain but it pours for Mark Allen this avo as a red along the top cushion doesn't drop. So much pressure on these shots now, and suddenly Williams returns to finish off another frame. Surging 7-0 clear with one more frame to come this evening. Just far too good.
Allen 0-6 Williams (0-31)
Just 31 from Willo this time as he can't get pack open off black. Which is slightly surprising. Not enough pace. Allen slashes at a long red, but well of the target.
Allen 0-6 Williams (0-21)
Williams with another spellbinding long red to get this frame moving. Tight on baulk cushion, but made that look easy. Lands perfectly on black too. Another very decent chance to establish a lead in this seventh frame.
Allen 0-5 Williams (51-77)
Allen heads for brown then. Punches in the brown to spring blue from the baulk cushion. Excellent shot. What a clearance this could be. But he misses the tricky blue, and leaves it in the jaws of the green pocket. So close to a huge clearance, but it is the same outcome as he ships another frame. 51 from Allen, within three balls of his first frame. But it is now 6-0 as Williams drops in blue and adds pink.
Allen 0-5 Williams (42-66)
Only the blue ball is safe on this table. So 66 might not be enough for the frame. Allen with a tidy 42 to the colours.
Allen 0-5 Williams (9-66)
Well, Williams butchers an attempt at a long red for once and finally Allen has hand on table at close range. Chance to launch the counter attack. Nothing much safe on this table.
Allen 0-5 Williams (0-66)
Heading over the 50-mark in no time at all. Lovely little cannon on a red to develop another red via the black. And on goes Williams. Allen with only 65 points in six frames. Which says it all. Will this be a third straight century? And the answer is no. 66 as pack doesn't open, and the safety shot is brilliant again from Willo. But MA responds with a terrific one of his own.
Allen 0-5 Williams (0-38)
Another corking red from mid-range from Williams wriggles into a top pocket. And he is up and running again here in this sixth frame. Allen sitting out this match it seems. Might as well be in with the spectators. Willo in peak form, and is really getting on with it too. Very fast.
Allen 0-5 Williams (0-0)
Well over an hour since Allen potted a ball in this match. The Antrim man yet to take on a long red in five frames.
Allen 0-4 Williams (4-112)
Outside chance of a maximum in this frame. Difficult though with red drifting towards left side cushion. This is swashbuckling stuff as the problem red drops after a sublime cut on black. One red left up. Rattles the green pocket trying to screw back for black from an acute angle. What a break that is. No maxi, but would take this level of form every day of the week. Back-to-back centuries and a 5-0 lead for the Welshman.
Allen 0-4 Williams (4-57)
Back for another four frames after the interval, and MA continues his toils as he can't slot in a red over the top left-hand pocket. So normal service resumed as Willo picks up from where he left off in the fourth frame. This is very, very nice indeed. Brings 40 up in no time at all. All reds and blacks so far in this contribution. Allen still hasn't potted a ball. Heading for a 5-0 lead in this semi-final surely.
Allen 0-3 Williams (0-124)
A sparkling break of 105 from Williams brings up a huge cheer from the sell-out Manchester audience before they head off for a cuppa. Allen with a bit to think about here. Perhaps the mid-sesh will bring some clarity to his cue. Breaks of 59, 99 and 105 so far.
Allen 0-3 Williams (0-99)
Allen has done little wrong here, but is suddenly 4-0 adrift. Four more frames after the mid-session break. Allen would like to pick up three of them at least, but nigh impossible when you aren't seeing any potential pots.
Allen 0-3 Williams (0-66)
Safety has been on a different level from MJW so far, but the balls still need potting and he's been doing that with some ease too. All the reds are suddenly opened up. Glorious chance to move 4-0 clear. Allen looking a bit pensive. No wonder. He's been played out of this semi-final so far.
Allen 0-3 Williams (0-19)
MA tries to cut in a red to left middle from the top end of the table, but is so unfortunate to see the white nudge a right centre jaw before popping out to leave a red for Willo to get moving again first in this fourth frame. That is very unlucky. Williams making 18 before exhibiting another excellent safety shot by rolling white tight on baulk cush. Allen is short of pace with the response, but Williams can only add a single red this time. Allen has not potted a ball for 33 minutes.
Allen 0-2 Williams (7-123)
A tough black just stays out on 99 over the green bag, but that is a quite magnificent break by MJW. All over Allen like a rash so far. One more frame before the mid-session break. Which is an important one for the Northern Irishman, you suspect. If Willo wins this one, he won't trail when they return for the second session at 7pm.
Allen 0-2 Williams (0-76)
Chance of a first century of the day on the cards too. Looking at one with the table. Colours to come.
Allen 0-2 Williams (0-76)
In goes the blue to move to snookers required in this frame. Heading for a 3-0 lead in this semi-final. All Williams so far. Looks to be seeing the pockets superbly well too.
Allen 0-2 Williams (0-57)
Allen left in all sorts of trouble in baulk trying to escape from a series of dilemmas in snookers. Completely shutting out Allen. Leaves Williams with another easy enough starter to extend his advantage. A mixture of brilliant defence and attack really paying off for Willo so far.
Allen 0-2 Williams (0-19)
Allen in a spot of bother here trying to escape from a snooker. Concedes 13 points in hitting pink and black, but comes up with a decent escape the third time. Williams unearthing some excellent safety shots in this exchange.
Allen 0-2 Williams (0-12)
Tough to get the pack open off the black using top spin, and Willo ends up missing the black at the outset of third frame. But no damage done. Reds still tightly packed.
Allen 0-1 Williams (50-69)
A delicious run of 46 from Williams, who bounds 2-0 clear in the race to 10, as he pops home the pink to seal the deal. An ideal start to his day here.
Allen 0-1 Williams (50-54)
So no instant comeback from the Antrim man as Allen misses the black having made 34. And that is unexpected. Chance for Willo to launch the counter attack. Brilliant red then pink to opposite centre pockets from the Welshman, who looks right on it here. Just one tricky red left to negotiate. And he produces a super shot from yellow to land on red near right hand side rail. In goes the black. And that looks like 2-0 is in the post. Just the colours left. What a break this has been.
Allen 0-1 Williams (35-23)
Second chance of the frame is handed to Allen after Williams fails to drop in a tricky red with white on side cushion. Early days in these match, but it all builds up over the day. Allen taking his time over these balls. Can't blame him. Would dearly love to restore parity at 1-1.
Allen 0-1 Williams (12-23)
Willo clubs in a superb red using the rest to land back on the pink. And this is another very decent opportunity for Williams to score heavily. Doesn't need to do much work in getting more reds into play. Can build a big lead with the open reds, but he then runs out of position. That is hard to take. Bad error by Willo.
Allen 0-1 Williams (12-0)
Allen getting some help from his opponent, who gives him a spot of sandpaper to round his tip. A loose fibre clearly popping out. But MA can only advance to 12 before missing a plant on reds. A reprieve for Williams.
Allen 0-1 Williams (0-0)
Willo gets the second frame on the move. Allen opting to nudge a red safe rather than attempt an audacious long red in response. But Williams butchers a safety shot of his own and sticks up a red to right centre.
Allen 0-0 Williams (4-88)
57 break finalises the open frame in favour of MJW (Mark J WIlliams). That is a delightful way to get the first frame up and running. Allen not really left with any easy pots at red. Which is ideal from MJW's point of view.
Allen 0-0 Williams (4-65)
Fair to say, Willo is quick out of the blocks here. A third chance of the frame falls to him and he is surely going to put the opener to bed at this visit. Or go very near to it. Williams is a deceptively quick player, but has got the slow walk on already around the table. Always a good sign among the balls.
Allen 0-0 Williams (0-31)
Northern Irishman Allen is a bit short of pace with a safety, and Williams pounces to float home another lovely mid-range red. But out of position again seconds later. Just the safety to follow.
Allen 0-0 Williams (0-24)
And that is fabulous long red by Willo in his 65th ranking event semi-final. On the move right off the bat. Crowd already captivated by this contest. And rightly so. Two terrific players, who are bang in form. Williams can't get pack of reds open on 24 so just a safety to follow.
Allen 0-0 Williams (0-0)
What a fantastic crowd in for this second semi-final. Can't get a pin between fans inside a venue that has really warmed to this event. A nice way to spend your Saturday afternoon. Eight frames to play this avo. Allen has won nine of the past 10 meetings between the pair, and is 12-4 clear on the career head-to-heads. Allen gets the first frame of the day up and running.
MARK ALLEN REVEALS PROBLEM HE HAS WITH TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP
Mark Allen has pointed out one major gripe he has with the format of the 12-player Tour Championship. Allen will face Mark Williams today as he bids to secure a final showdown with world No. 1 Ronnie O'Sullivan on Sunday. Despite the event being hailed as a huge success with sell-out crowds flocking to Manchester Central this week, Allen feels a one-table set-up was more fitting for prestige. Read more here
Welcome back to Manchester
Almost ready to get the ball rolling in what should be an absolute classic between Mark Allen and Mark Williams in the Tour Championship semi-finals before a sell-out crowd in Manchester Central. The winner will be 'rewarded' with a match against snooker GOAT Ronnie O'Sullivan in a Super Sunday final for the £150,000 first prize. Boyz on the baize in next few minutes.
O'Sullivan - 'Kind of felt like I had the yips'
Ronnie O’Sullivan has revealed he has been battling a form of the yips that have made him scared to play snooker.
The world No. 1 has had one of his best seasons in years, winning Triple Crown events at the UK Championship and The Masters as well as the World Grand Prix, Shanghai Masters and World Masters of Snooker.
As well as the five wins, he has also been absent from a host of events on account of medical grounds.
“I am just trying really hard to not get down on myself,” O’Sullivan told ITV Sport. “It is hard but I am trying to change my mindset.
“It is not easy, but maybe two weeks ago I’d have mentally thrown in the towel because I was not flowing but I just thought keep going, keep going and focus on the positives that might be around the corner.”
Read the full story here.
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