Mark Allen believes 'destructive spell' is behind him as he faces 'ultimate test' at Masters
Northern Ireland’s top potter Mark Allen is gearing up for the “ultimate test” in his Masters quarter-final. The 2018 winner locks horns with Mark Selby in a tasty last-eight showdown on Thursday night at London’s iconic Ally Pally.
Four-time world champion Selby looks back to his best as he bids for a famous fourth title at the sport’s illustrious 16-man invitational event.
Ulster cueman Allen, 38, felt “lost” with his game during a “destructive” spell earlier in the campaign. But the Antrim ace, who impressed to beat Chinese young gun Si Jiahui 6-2 in the first round, said: “I’m not quite where I want to be yet, but I feel like I've turned a corner.
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“There was a spell earlier in the season which was destructive for me because the little touch shots I pride myself on I was getting slightly wrong.
“It was really frustrating because that’s what I’m meant to be good at and I couldn’t figure out why it was going wrong.
“It’s not like I wasn’t practicing. I was putting the work in. You just have to keep going and keep plugging away.
“I’m always striving for more. I played recently and I had a session in the club where I made eight centuries in a row, two 147s in a row and missed a blue on 129 at the end and I honestly went home thinking about the blue I missed. It shows you how this game can do your head in.”
World No.4 Allen can be buoyed by his recent record against the Jester from Leicester, having beaten Selby in three of their last four meetings — including in a dramatic decider in the last eight at the Masters last year.
And Allen added: “I love playing Mark. I feel like he’s right up there with the likes of Ronnie and Higgins.
"He’s the ultimate test of your game. He tests out every part of your game.
“I’ve got a good record against him. I beat him here last year at the same stage.
“I beat him in Saudi recently and beat him in Saudi last year. But I need to go out there and play well or I’ll get beat.”
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