Mark Allen slammed seven-time champion Stephen Hendry for “talking rubbish” after crusing into the quarter-finals of the World Snooker Championship in Sheffield.
Hendry had strongly criticised the Antrim man’s shot choice through the opening session of his second spherical match towards Kyren Wilson on Thursday, as Allen let slip a 5-0 lead.
But Allen recovered to wrap up a 13-9 win on Saturday morning and turned his consideration to Hendry, insisting: “Stephen’s entitled to his opinion, but more often than not, he’s full of rubbish, to be honest.”
Allen added: “Not everyone can come here and make it look as easy as he did, but you’re also looking at someone that never won a ‘triple crown’ event after they turned 30, so the game changes and maybe that stubbornness is what cost him his later part of his career.”
Allen gained 4 of the primary six frames in Saturday’s morning session to upset the 2024 champion, and can now face Barry Hawkins or Wales’ three-time champion Mark Williams within the final eight.
Wilson, who beat Jak Jones to win the 2024 title, had gained six successive frames to steer 6-5 and a see-saw battle ensued earlier than Allen gained the ultimate two frames in Friday’s session, aided by a 140-break, to edge 9-7 forward.
Wilson clawed it again on Saturday morning with a rating of 78 within the opening body however Allen produced scores of 78 and 61 to go 11-8 up and, regardless of dropping the subsequent body, held his nerve to progress.
Neil Robertson, champion in 2010, squandered a 4-1 lead within the opening session of his second-round match towards Chris Wakelin.
Australia’s Robertson gained 4 frames on the spin after dropping the opener, however world quantity 13 Wakelin hit again, producing a rating of 77 to cease the rot and taking the ultimate two frames of the morning session to degree it up.
