Tour Championship snooker 2024: Mark Williams dominates Mark Allen in semi-final to earn Ronnie O'Sullivan final
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ByOli Gent
Updated 06/04/2024 at 20:28 GMT
Mark Williams was at his very best to beat Mark Allen in their semi-final of the Tour Championship. Williams, the eighth seed at the tournament, started as he meant to go on, whitewashing Allen in the afternoon session, winning all eight frames. However, Allen threatened a fightback in the evening, winning five frames, but Williams posted a strong 75 in the 15th to see out the victory.
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Mark Williams is into the final of the Tour Championship after he finally overcame Mark Allen 10-5 in Manchester.
Williams, the eighth seed, whitewashed his opponent in the afternoon session, winning all eight frames, but the world No. 3 fought back to get himself within four in the evening, before a final flourish sent the Welshman through.
He will go on to face Ronnie O'Sullivan in the final at Manchester Central, after the second seed beat Gary Wilson in a tricky test 10-7 on Friday.
"I did a great break there really [to win match]," Williams told ITV.
"As good as any I did in the whole match. I just knew I had to make a one-frame visit the way the match was going.
"I try to get my practice at the venues. I've been playing like that all season. Some of the people have played unbelievable snooker against me this season.
"If I had a pick to play in the final, it would be O'Sullivan. He's the best player by a mile at a packed venue."
Williams was playing some sublime snooker in the afternoon session, showcasing all the facets of his potting and safety game, to which Allen had no answers.
The Welshman sealed the opening frame after making his way to an impressive break of 57, in a run that came to an end after failing to pot a pink to the bottom pocket.
Allen responded with a run of 34 after being thwarted by black to the bottom pocket, opening the door for Williams to clear up the table up to the final black with a well-crafted clearance of 46 to double his lead.
With Allen already falling foul to a Williams snooker, he was left with the cue ball tightly nestled behind the brown but brilliantly escaped.
Williams responded by finding a red to middle pocket and the Northern Irishman could only watch on in his seat as his opponent coasted to a brilliant break of 99 with some delightful potting to move 3-0 ahead.
It was a horrible case of deja vu for Allen, who managed to escape a snooker but left the cue ball nestled in prime position for Williams to dispatch the red.
He cleared up the table quite magnificently with his first century break of the match at 107 to motor into a 4-0 lead, and left Allen desperately looking for answers to stem the Welshman’s flow.
He needed to win at least three of the four frames after the interval to keep his hopes alive, and find a way to stop an opponent who looks close to his imperious best.
That took a major hit when Williams strengthened his hold on the match with another sensational break, this time of 112 to take a 5-0 lead following the re-start.
Williams could only make 31 on his first visit to the table in the sixth frame, but Allen’s attempt at a red was unsuccessful. Williams returned to finish off the frame and carried on in the seventh to take a huge lead
An unanswered 48 from Williams put him on his way to making it eight before too long, but the inevitable was delayed by a couple of nice reds from Allen, who gave himself a foothold in the final frame before the break.
However, with Williams in such fine fettle, the tight frame was decided with a pivotal blue from the Welshman pretty much sealing him the session whitewash.
There was still time for Allen to send the pink off the table, prompting him to offer his hand.
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The evening session started as the last ended - with Williams in cruise control. He racked up a century - 140 to be exact - to go 9-0 up, and be one frame away from the final.
However, Allen would find his form to prevent the match whitewash. He got himself on the scoreboard with a 65 break, before a 53 followed to notch two frames to his name.
Williams began to feel the pressure as mistakes crept into his game, with Allen starting to find his rhythm in the 12th, notching a 79 break to take him over the century as a potted black sparked a cheer from the crowd.
Another 56 break from the world No. 3 put him on his way to halving the match deficit, which he did in the following frame with a clean 69 break.
However, Williams decided that the 15th frame would be the one that he would put the game to bed, with a thunderous long red and pink starting him off, before a 75 score had Allen offering his hand for the final time.
Williams, therefore, goes on to face O'Sullivan in Sunday's final, which will be the first ranking final between the pair since December 2000.
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