Lisowski sets up final show against Selby
Mark Allen’s valiant Scottish Open title defence was painfully ended in the semi-finals.
The Pistol was gunned down 6-5 by English upstart Jack Lisowski in an entertaining clash last night at Glasgow’s Emirates Arena.
The potting sensation set up a mouth-watering showdown with three-time world champion Mark Selby for the £70,000 top prize today.
World No 7 Allen, who won last year’s title despite late-night boozing all week, said: “I’m disappointed, but I’m pleased with how far I got with my title defence.
“I went about it the right way this week in terms of my preparation.
“So I know I gave myself the best possible chance.
“I’m not too far away, but I keep losing in semi-finals and that’s frustrating.”
Northern Irish potter Allen hit 77 and 79 runs but they weren’t enough as Lisowski bagged a barrage of big breaks – 135, 82, 59, 118, 74 and 95.
Antrim ace Allen has now lost six semi-finals this season.
And Lisowski is desperate to go one further and break his ranking title duck after losing the 2018 Riga Masters and 2019 China Open finals – both to former world champion Neil Robertson.
Lisowski, 28, said: “That’s pretty much as well as I can play.
“To beat John Higgins, Thepchaiya Un-nooh and Mark Allen to reach a final is incredible.
“I’ve just felt a lot calmer and, hopefully, this is the week for me.”
Meanwhile, Selby is desperate to end 2019 in style by winning today’s showcase final.
The Englishman crushed compatriot David Gilbert 6-1 with 76, 84, 132 and 69 breaks.
Selby’s wife Vikki and daughter Sofia will fly up to Glasgow for today’s final.
“It would be fantastic to win the Scottish Open,” admitted Selby.
“I’ve got the Steve Davis trophy (English Open) at home and to add the Stephen Hendry trophy would be special because they’re two greats of the game.
“It would be amazing to win another title.
“The plan is for the family to come up and support me.
“They went to Aladdin this afternoon and Vicki told me she’d have to watch me on her phone, so that’s how much she supports me.
“I’ve got better as the tournament’s gone on.”
However, Selby knows he will have to remain fully focused if he is to become the first man to win two Home Nations events in the same season.
“I keep going in and out of focus a little bit,” revealed Selby.
“I’m focused until I think I’ve won the frame and then I slack off.“You don’t want to be doing that, especially in a final, because you can get badly punished.”