World Grand Prix

Mark Allen brought the Saengkham run to an abrupt end with a 6-1 semi final win.
He awaits the winner of the Trump v Murphy semi final to be played on Saturday.

It will be a Trump v Allen final after the Bristolian saw off Shaun Murphy 6-2.

Call him the Bristolian Blizzard and have done with it. anyway, thank goodness he won.

Mark Allen is the champion after a thrilling 10-9 final victory. He led 6-2 at the end of the afternoon session before Trump launched a stirring fightback to force a deciding frame.
The Northern Irishman ultimately held his nerve however to claim his third ranking title of the season and further credit a stellar season.
He also snatched the high break prize with a total clearance of 141

Mark Allen says he was " shaking like a shitting dog "

Credit to them both; Allen did the hard yards in the afternoon.

Tomorrow evening from 7pm the World Grand Prix starts. It will be the first tournament of the season to use the 1 year ranking list rather the normal 2 year list so it can be a ranking event rather than an invitational. Only the top 32 in the current 1YRL are guaranteed entry, if any one drops out then Sia Jiahui who is at no.33 will be first choice to take their place. It will be screened on ITV4.

Surprising players who are in the current top 32 in the 1YRL: Dominic Dale, Jamie Jones
Surprising players who are not in the current top 32 in the 1YRL: Kyren Wilson, Robert Milkins, Luca Brecel

Judd Trump carried on his poor form from the Masters as he went 2-0 down to Jamie Jones. However when Judd got his potting going he won 4 frames in a row to beat Jones 4-2, Jones unable to match Judd's standard of potting.

Selby pushed to a decider. Vafaei and Lyu Haotian also winners from Day 1.

Sadly Tubs whitewashed John Higgins 4-0, and in a double whammy for Scotland Zhou Yuelong beat Maguire 4-1