ALLEN’S THE MASTER NOW

MARk ALLEN claimed his first Masters title with a 107 victory over kyren wilson at Alexandra Palace last night. The 31yearold becomes the first Northern Irishman to win the competition since Dennis Taylor in 1987. ketteringborn wilson, who like Allen was appearing in his first Masters final, led 43 in the afternoon session but failed to turn a promising start into victory. After being handed the trophy, Allen said: ‘It’s surreal, it’s been a long time coming. ‘I felt calm all week, apart from the first session today, but I felt as the match went on I got stronger. I’m very, very pleased to be on the right end of it for a change. ‘what a competitor kyren wilson is. It’s not a nice feeling, but how far has he come in these last few years?’ wilson, who was tearful at the end of the final, said: ‘I’ve had an incredible week, if anyone was going to beat me I’d have loved it to have been Mark. He deserves it.’ A 73 from Allen followed by a sensational 119, the first century of the match, and another 50 finally gave the 31yearold daylight at 85. But wilson, 26, reduced the deficit to a single frame before his efforts proved to be in vain as Allen clinched the two frames required and celebrated with an emotional fist pump.