Home and dry
MARK ALLEN raced into the semi-finals of the Scottish Open and then said he might give Stephen Maguire a call after running out of drinking partners.
The Northern Irishman is looking to close out a superb calendar year with a fifth career ranking crown in Glasgow.
He ruined Londoner Alfie Burden’s 42nd birthday with a whitewash
5-0 victory yesterday.
“Normally I’d go out for a few but I haven’t any victims left to drag with me, they’ve all gone home,” he said.
Scot Maguire, who went out in the first round, is a friend and Allen said: “Stephen lives close by so maybe I’ll give him a shout and see what he’s doing.”
Joining Allen in the semi-finals is Shaun Murphy, a 5-0 winner over Sam Baird.
Murphy had never made it past the fourth round of any Home Nations event since the series was set up and Baird had beaten him 6-0 earlier in the season. “I’ve got better with each match this week – any win is good the way my season has been,” said Murphy.
“And I’m used to being at home by now in the Home Nations.”