OPEN BID ALL OVER FOR ALLEN

HOME favourite Mark Allen had “no complaints” as he crashed out of the Northern Ireland Open.

The Ulsterman suffered a shock 4-3 defeat to China’s Tian Pengfei, the world No63, at Belfast’s Waterfront Hall last night.

Allen, above, led 3-2 with breaks of 51 and 55, but Pengfei hit back and deservedly triumphed with match runs of 73, 51, 50 and 109.

“I’ve got no complaints,” said world No7 Allen. “I just lost to the better player.”

A delighted Pengfei beamed: “There was pressure on him, but I knew it was going to be a tough match. That’s a big win for me, this is my best season so far.”

Defending champion Mark King extended his unbeaten record stretching back to this tournament last season with a 4-1 victory over compatriot Ashley Hugill.

But the left-hander’s win wasn’t pretty as he mustered a top break of just 41 in booking his place in the last 32 stage.

Crowd favourite Ronnie O’sullivan whitewashed Welshman Duane Jones 4-0 with breaks of 65 and 81 to keep his hopes of the £1million bonus alive.

The English Open champion is the only player who can scoop the jackpot if he can win the title this week, as well as the Scottish Open and Welsh Open later in the season.

“It’s getting on my nerves people talking about it all the time,” admitted O’sullivan, left. “But if I did win it I’d put it to good use. I’d feed some people who need feeding.”

Dubliner Ken Doherty booked his place in the next round with a 4-1 win over Chinese potter Niu Zhuang.

Former world champion Neil Robertson eased past Englishman Billy Joe Castle with runs of 53 and 65, while two-time world champion Mark Williams thrashed Tom Ford 4-0 to progress.