Mark Allen has hit back at Shaun Murphy as their war of words at snooker's UK Championship escalated.

Allen, who who was labelled a “grinder” earlier this week, has taken umbrage with a number of 2005 world champion Murphy’s comments during the season, and tensions boiled over when Allen slammed the table fitters at the British Open saying that the tables should be "burned" - with Murphy launching a passionate defence. Now Murphy, in the BBC commentary box, hammered Allen’s style of play during his gruelling five-hour 6-5 semi-final midnight marathon defeat to Barry Hawkins, which was deemed a “witch hunt” by viewers on social media.

During the tense match, world number three Allen's average shot time was an uncharacteristic 31.5 seconds in what became an extremely fragmented encounter. With the fed-up semi-finalist saying he could "understand why Shaun loses so many matches that he should win."

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Given the chance to reply to Murphy’s comments accusing him of slow play, 2022 UK champion Allen fired back: “It’s perhaps best to leave personal feelings out of the commentary box. Just because I’ve called out some of his recent comments. It’s not the first time Shaun’s said something that doesn’t make much sense for headlines, is it? I think he’s meant to be impartial in the commentary box.

“Snooker’s not that easy when you’re not at your best. It’s very easy sat in the commentary box. I don’t get involved with that sort of stuff, but I play to win and play within the rules. “If I’m not feeling my best I’m not going to go out there all guns blazing. Maybe you’ll understand why Shaun loses so many matches that he should win.

“I didn’t go into that match trying to slow it down, absolutely not. I try and pot every ball I see and clear the table every chance I get.”