The tournament in Belfast is one of the best supported events on the calendar. And Antrim ace Allen would love to see the passionate fans in the country rewarded with another tournament
Master Mark Allen taught apprentice Aaron Hill a lesson in a huge Irish derby — and then called for a tournament south of the border. Home hero Allen, 39, sent practice partner Hill packing 4-1 in the last 16 of the Northern Ireland Open last night.
The tournament in Belfast is one of the best supported events on the calendar. And Antrim ace Allen would love to see the passionate fans in the country rewarded with another tournament and suggested a return to Goffs, which used to host the Irish Masters.
World No.8 Allen said: “It’s a shame we don’t actually have a tournament in the south as well. When you turn up at this event and you see the support from the north and south and it’s amazing. The Irish Masters at Goffs was amazing from what I’ve heard and I would have loved to have played there.
“If myself, Jordan [Brown], Aaron and young Robbie [McGuigan] can keep going then we could hopefully get more tournaments here. You can see every year that the event here is so well supported.”
Former UK and Masters champion Allen kicked off the clash with a classy total clearance of 137. Hill quickly levelled with a break of 65 of his own before left-hander Allen pinched the third frame on the black. And the Pistol wrapped up the match with runs of 53 and 69 to book his quarter-final berth.
Allen, who started the season provisionally needing to go to the gruelling World Championship qualifiers, said: “I know Aaron better than most and I know he will be fuming he didn’t beat me.
“The biggest compliment I can give him is that I love the disrespect he gives the best players, he doesn’t care who you are and I love that. I hadn’t looked at the rankings and I was out having food with Stephen Maguire and he told me I was outside the 16 for the worlds.
“I didn’t realise I was that far down. But I’ve always backed my ability to win matches and win tournaments.”
Four-time world champion John Higgins set up a quarter-final against world No.1 Judd Trump with a 4-1 win over Si Jiahui. Trump, who is chasing a record fifth Alex Higgins trophy saw off Gary Willson by the same scoreline. But he feels he is far from the breathtaking best he has produced in Belfast over the years.
He said: “I am very, very, very far from playing my best. It’s that bit of sharpness and confidence I’m missing at the moment. I have played a lot better and lost and you have to remember that sometimes.”
Zhou Yuelong received a bye into the quarter-finals after Ali Carter withdrew due to personal reasons.
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