ALLEN IS ZHANG ON
Mark beats Chinese ace to title
MARK ALLEN called on all of his battling qualities to be crowned this season’s Players Championship champion.
Northern Ireland’s top potter bravely battled back from 3-0 behind to beat Chinese star Zhang Anda 10-8 in a gripping showcase final last night at the Telford International Centre.
And with victory the impressive left-hander pocketed the £125,000 first prize and a THIRD title of what has proved to be a memorable season.
Victory also saw the Antrim ace claim the 11th ranking title of his decorated career.
Surprise-package Zhang dumped out four-time world champions John
Higgins and Mark Selby with fines win on his way to the final.
And this season’s International Championship winner started in impressive fashion as breaks of 82 and 70 saw him surge into a commanding 3-0 lead.
Allen pinched a scrappy fourth frame to finally get on the scoreboard and also made a spirited 101 break – his fifth century of the tournament to restore parity.
This season’s English Open finalist Zhang edged 4-3 in front with a break of 64 but Allen – winner of the Champion of Champions and Shootout this term – won the last frame of the afternoon session on the final black to finish level-pegging before the concluding evening session.
Allen finally edged ahead for the first time after winning a fragmented opening frame following the resumption but Zhang restored parity and made a composed 64 break to lead 6-5.
But back came Allen again as he reeled off three frames on the spin to move closer to victory.
Zhang (below) won a long-winded 15th frame to stay within touching distance after Allen failed to take a string of chances to move within one frame of victory.
However, victory was just around the corner as the 38-year-old dug deep to win two of the next three frames for a memorable night in the Midlands.
The Ulsterman was by no means at his best but his B-game proved too much for Zhang, appearing in his third of his own successful season.
He beat three-time world champion Mark Williams, Gary Wilson and Ali Carter in a week to remember and made sure of his place in the best-of-19 frame final.
And with victory has now won six ranking titles in the last two seasons, as well as having secured his qualification for the Tour Championship later this season.