Allen targets Worlds after seeing off Murphy to clinch Scottish title
MARK Allen beat Shaun Murphy 9-7 to win the Scottish Open a week after losing the UK Championship final – and is now targeting the World Championship title.
The Masters champion won at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow last night having been 7-6 behind at one point.
He rattled off three straight frames to take victory having criticised his own behaviour and approach to the tournament previously.
Allen admitted to having had a couple of drinks during the interval of his semi-final victory over Daniel Wells.
But he was on form last night and a break of 134, the highest of the match, in the 15th frame put him just one frame away from victory.
“I know I’ve got the game [to win the World Championship],” said Allen. “I feel great. Every time I go to the table now I’m feeling confident.”
Allen had to show all his powers of recovery in the semi-final after falling 4-0 behind. At 5-2 down he looked certain to be crashing out but came back to salvage a 6-5 win over Daniel Wells of Wales.
The Antrim potter had admitted that he “disrespected” the event in his approach having taken the break in his last-four clash as a chance to have a couple of drinks – admitting to being hungover in matches.
Despite seeing the error of his ways, Allen suggested he would “go out and enjoy himself” the night before his final.
“I could stay in tonight and go to bed early and feel horrendous tomorrow,” said Allen. “I would deserve to feel that way for the disrespect I’ve showed to the tournament. So I may as well go out and have a good time.”