Jaded Allen storms into semi-finals

MArk ALLen raced into the semi-finals of the Scottish Open despite admitting he had almost given the event a miss. The northern Ireland star is looking to close out a superb calendar year with a fifth career ranking title at Glasgow’s emirates Arena. And the reigning Masters champion ruined Londoner Alfie Burden’s 42nd birthday with a whitewash 5-0 victory yesterday. Allen (below) almost withdrew from this event after a draining run to the final of the Uk Championship last week, where he lost to ronnie O’Sullivan. But having made the decision to tough it out, the world no 6 could yet add to his Masters and International Championship titles in 2018. ‘I almost didn’t play in this event — if ronnie had let me win the Uk Championship, then I might have taken the week off,’ said the 32-year-old. ‘It is draining, coming straight off such a huge final on Sunday night, then here on Monday. But, once you get to this stage, you get up for it. ‘Part of me is very tired and I actually can’t wait for the tournament to finish, whenever that is for me. ‘My form has been really good for a few months now and I have been getting to the later stages regularly. ‘It is taking the very best at their best to beat me at the moment, so I want to keep that going because I feel like I still have some proving to do.’ And Allen, who is close friends with Glasgow-based Scot and five-time ranking event winner Stephen Maguire, who lost in the first round, promised to enjoy the city during his stay this week. ‘normally I would go out again for a few — but I haven’t any victims left to drag down with me for a night out,’ he joked. ‘They have all gone home. ‘Stephen Maguire lives close by, maybe I’ll give him a shout and see what he is doing tonight. I have done it all week, so why not keep the run going.’ Joining Allen in the semi-finals is former world champion Shaun Murphy — also a 5-0 winner over Sam Baird. The 36-year-old had never made it past the fourth round of any Home nations event since the series was set up before this week. And his form appears to be coming back after a dismal start to the campaign, in which world no 101 Baird had beaten him 6-0 earlier in the season. Murphy said: ‘I have got better with each match this week — any win is good the way my season has been. ‘And I am pretty used to being at home by now in these Home nations tournaments. This is by far and away the furthest I have gone.’ In a battle between two Welshmen, meanwhile, Daniel Wells cruised to a terrific victory over ryan Day. Wells, the world no 66, upset the odds to triumph 5-1 over the world no 13.