Mark Allen becomes fourth player to hit a 147 at Masters and second this week alone after Ding Junhui achieved the feat against Ronnie O'Sullivan on Monday; Northern Irishman fights back to beat Mark Selby and make semis; defending champion Judd Trump was knocked out by Ali Carter
Saturday 13 January 2024 07:32, UK
Mark Allen registered the second 147 of this year's Masters as he edged past Mark Selby 6-5 on Friday and into the semi-finals.
History was made in the third frame of the last-eight encounter when Allen celebrated just the fifth 147 in the history of the tournament, but the second of this year's event after Ding Junhui achieved the feat against Ronnie O'Sullivan earlier this week.
A poor shot on the blue almost cost him the chance in front of 2,000 fans at Alexandra Palace in London, but he recovered for the pink and black to roars from the crowd after losing the first two frames.
Selby subsequently moved 4-1 ahead before Allen claimed four frames in a row, including a break of 103, to take the lead.
After Selby brought things level again, Allen took the final frame to book a semi-final clash with Ali Carter.
Speaking after his match, Allen said: "I don't know where that maximum came from because it was a really poor performance tonight.
"You never know how a match can change. I was applying myself really well, I just couldn't find any rhythm and, as the match went on, I grew into it.
"Any win against Mark is a good win, so I'll take that into tomorrow, but I'll need to play better."
The first player to hit a 147 at the Masters was Kirk Stevens in 1984 and the feat was not seen again at the tournament until Ding achieved it in 2007.
Marco Fu enjoyed a maximum in 2015 and then Ding remarkably repeated the feat on Monday and we have now seen two 147s in the same Masters tournament for the first time.
There was a shock earlier in the day when defending Masters champion Judd Trump was knocked out by Carter after a thrilling quarter-final which went down to the wire.
Carter was losing 5-4 and facing an exit in the 10th frame only for his opponent to over-cut the matchball red, allowing the 44-year-old to seize his chance and produce a 43 clearance to take it to a decider.
Boosted by that momentum a break of 64 then saw Carter, who had been 4-2 up only for Trump to fight back with a break of 129 on his way to winning three frames in succession, through to only his second Masters semi in 13 attempts.
"For all the money, I looked like going 5-3 in front and lost my composure for a couple of frames," Carter said in his post-match interview.
"I felt like I worked really hard but was delighted to make an unbelievable clearance to force a decider.
"Then how I've held myself together there, I don't know - that's a feather in my cap."
The other semi-final sees Ronnie O'Sullivan face Shaun Murphy.
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