TRUMP IS MY ACE IN THE PACK

BY

MARK ALLEN hopes the stars are aligning for him to become a multiple Masters champion.

Antrim’s world No.3 (above) scraped through a first-round slugfest to beat Scot John Higgins 6-5 at London’s iconic Ally Pally.

Last season, Judd Trump admitted he was like a “cat with nine lives” as he landed a special second title at the sport’s most illustrious invitational event.

Only 11 players have won the the event more than once, with Belfast great Alex Higgins part of that elite group.

And Antrim ace Allen, who faces Mark Selby in tonight’s tasty quarter-final, said: “I’m hoping I can take an omen from Judd (inset) last year when he edged through that first round and won it with his B game as he said.

“I need to play better than what I did in the first round. It’s nice when you’re playing well and making big breaks all the time but the game’s not that easy.

“I know I can win tournaments with my B game and that’s important belief to have.

“These are the tournaments that I want to win. These big Triple Crown events.

“That’s where I differ from Judd because he just wants to win every tournament but I think you’ll always be judged on your career by Triple Crown events and I’ve only got two so I want to put that right.”

The Pistol is out to gun down Selby - the man who denied him a shot to become world champion last season.

Allen was pipped 17-15 in a gripping semi-final clash and added: “That Sheffield semi-final is gone. I’m just looking forward, I don’t mean that in a dismissive way, but what’s the point in looking back? You can’t do anything about it.

“I want to beat Mark and try to lift the Masters, not because he beat me in Sheffield. That’s what I’m here for.”