Mark Allen dominates afternoon session to take commanding World Grand Prix final lead against Judd Trump
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Updated 22/01/2023 at 16:47 GMT
Judd Trump has a mountain to climb in the World Grand Prix final after Mark Allen won five frames in a row to go 6-2 in front in the afternoon session. The two players will resume their battle later on Sunday in the evening session in Cheltenham, where Masters champion Trump will have to up his game to mount a comeback. After a tight start, the in-form Allen pulled away with an impressive display.
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Mark Allen has a handsome advantage at the midway stage of the World Grand Prix final, leading Judd Trump 6-2 ahead of the evening session.
There was nothing to split the two players after four long and gruelling frames opened proceedings.
But the Northern Irishman then pulled away, coming back from 2-1 down to take five frames in a row and a firm grip of the final at Cheltenham’s Centaur Arena.
Trump, who clinched the Masters title just a week ago in London, now faces a big task to stop Allen from winning his third ranking title of the season.
Allen got in with a break of 48 and with balls welded to cushions he was able to fend off a Trump fightback to take the opener.
Allen had a good chance in the second, but missed a pink to left middle and pointed to the crowd in frustration, appearing to suggest movement had distracted him.
Whatever the issue, it cost him the frame as Trump got going for the first time in the match to draw level.
Allen had another chance in the third, but missed a makeable red and a 74 from Trump took the Masters champion into the lead.
There was more mileage in the fourth frame than appeared likely when Allen got in the balls and made his first half century of the match, but he missed a red which allowed Trump to counter.
Trump left the table in disgust after a poor shot handed Allen a second bite, but he ran out of position and took over two minutes on a shot - which he won’t be able to do at the Shoot Out next week - and only ended up going in-off when attempting a safety.
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It resulted in Allen enduring a few nervous moments before potting the final red to draw level at the first interval of the final.
Allen came out firing after the interval and produced his second half-century of the match on his way to an 88 break, his best of the match so far, to secure the fifth frame.
Trump got in early in frame six but a poor miss on the blue handed Allen a chance and he took advantage, notching another half-century with a 63 break.
Another surprising miss from Trump on a mid-range red gifted Allen an early starter in the seventh frame, and the Northern Irishman’s 83 break helped him go three frames up and leave his opponent desperately needing a response in the final frame of the afternoon session.
The momentum continued with a Trump miss followed by a superb long red from Allen, and the world No.4 then walked off in disgust before his red had even reached its destination after a bad miss, allowing Allen to empty the table with a 77 break.
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