Mark Allen makes solid start in World Championship bid

Mark Allen holds a 6-3 lead over Mitchell Mann following the conclusion of their opening first-round session in the Betfred World Snooker Championships on Tuesday.
By The Newsroom
Published 19th Apr 2016, 22:29 BST
Updated 20th Apr 2016, 00:40 BST
Mark Allen in action against Mitchell Mann during day four of the Betfred Snooker World ChampionshipsMark Allen in action against Mitchell Mann during day four of the Betfred Snooker World Championships
Mark Allen in action against Mitchell Mann during day four of the Betfred Snooker World Championships

Debutant Mann, who beat Allen in qualifying for the China Open earlier this season, showed few Crucible nerves to start with as he took the opening frame with a break of 69 before producing a 77 to take a 2-1 lead.

It was 2-2 at the mid-session break, though, as Northern Irishman Allen responded with contributions of 74 and 64.

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Allen, last month’s Players Championship winner, emerged from the interval with breaks of 104, 85 and 78 to help him establish a 6-2 advantage but world number 74 Mann, the only rookie at this year’s tournament, kept himself in the match by snatching a scrappy last frame of the session on the pink.

Meanwhile, four-time champion John Higgins eased into the second round with a comprehensive 10-3 victory over qualifier Ryan Day.

The damage was all done on Monday morning as Higgins plundered three century breaks to take a 7-2 lead.