Mark Allen wins five frames on the trot as he beats Mark Williams at the Masters
Mark Allen won five frames in a row en-route to a 6-2 victory against Mark Williams at the Masters.
The Antrim man took the opening frame but then fell behind as two-time winner Williams forged ahead at 2-1.
However, Allen produced the goods thereafter as a run of 54 levelled the scores at 2-2 heading into the interval.
Runs of 60 and a stunning clearance of 125 gave Allen a two-frame buffer, which was then extended to three when a break of 70 did the damage to move one away from victory.
Allen clinched the match in the resulting frame as an early burst earned enough points to get over the line to reach the quarter-final stage, where he will face either Judd Trump or Ding.
Speaking to BBC Sport after the match, Allen remarked how he had been struggling with food poisoning prior to the event.
He stated: “It is the best place we play all year.
"The atmosphere here is second to none, so it’s always great to keep coming back.
"I prepare properly for these events but I couldn’t prepare properly for this at all.
"I was lying in bed all week with food poisoning and I just thought I’d go out and give it my best.
"I wouldn’t have much left if that went much closer, so I’m glad to get over the line when I did."
When asked if he can add the Masters title to his CV once again, he replied: “I’m not getting carried away.
"It will be my 11th quarter-final but I’ve only won it once, so I need to try and sort that out.
"This is as good a week as any to try and do that.”