SNOOKER: Mark Allen through to semis in Welsh Open

Allen had progressed to the quarter-finals after edging Barry Hawkins 4-3 and will now face Neil Robertson to stake his claim for a place in the final on Saturday.

He clinched the opening frame against White helped by a break of 49 and went 2-0 up on the black in the second frame.

Allen, ranked number nine in the world, then won the next three frames to secure his semi-final clash with Robertson with the minimum of fuss.

Meanwhile, Ding Junhui produced a maximum 147 break to earn the £10,000 prize money Ronnie O’Sullivan had turned his nose up at four days earlier.

Chinese player Ding landed the reward by recording his sixth 147 in his quarter-final defeat to Robertson in Cardiff, and he will be in line for a further £2,000 for the tournament’s highest break if nobody matches his feat in the remaining matches.

O’Sullivan joked: “I just thought he’s let the lads down, hasn’t he!”

“Ding got it and it’s fantastic. At least they’ve had a 147 this week...and a 146.”