WATCH: Mark Allen's black-ball agony to end dream of first world win at Crucible as Antrim ace feels 'right person's in the final'
Mark Allen’s World Championship dream must now run beyond a 20-year chase following his agonising semi-final exit to Wu Yize by 17-16 when a missed black cost the Antrim ace a shot at Shaun Murphy on the main stage.
After battling back from 6-2 down to sit level at 7-7 and 11-11 respectively ahead of the final session, Allen held the upper hand at the Crucible on three occasions before his 22-year-old opponent regrouped.
In a stunning climax, back-to-back wins by Northern Ireland’s Allen put a first-ever world final appearance in sight at 16-14 before another fightback frame from Wu left the deficit at one.
Allen, however, produced a superb pink in the 32nd frame to leave a pot on the black the final hurdle between that elusive landmark appearance on the sport’s biggest stage, having made his world tournament debut in 2007.
The black – somehow – failed to drop, with Wu taking full advantage to force a closing winner-takes-all showdown from which he came out on top off a 71 break.
“You don't deserve to be in a world final if you're missing balls like that,” said Allen on BBC Sport following the heart-breaking exit, describing the black ball miss at 16-15 as "just pure pressure, to be honest”.
He added: "Normally I'm pretty good under the pressure but just didn't handle it well today.
"I had two, three good chances to close out the match and didn't do it so credit to Wu.”
When asked about his mindset heading into the decisive frame, Allen described it as “honestly, fine” viewing 16-16 as “another opportunity to win.”
"Just win the next frame, that's what I always say,” he told BBC Sport. "So I was a little unlucky when I potted the pink and split the reds, didn't land on anything but, yeah, I had more than enough chances to win before that."
Allen offered Wu congratulations at the close of the thrilling semi-final.
“I just wished him good luck and said he played very well and I think he's going to be a world champion,” said Allen. "I think even though I'm devastated to lose that match, I think the right person's in the final.
"I think the way he plays is great for the game...scores heavy, pots some ridiculous long balls, just keeps potting.
"Doesn't seem to mind the pressure.,,he stepped up, made a good clearance in I think it was 16-14, done what he needed to in the last as well from behind.
"So all credit to Wu...I think if he doesn't win it this time he's going to win many world titles if he's playing the way he's playing.
"But it's a sore one for me for sure.”
Now 40 years old and winner of 12 ranking titles across his career, Allen’s finest Sheffield runs still stand at the semi-final stages – with three last-four defeats on his CV in a bid to become the oldest first-time finalist in World Championship history.
As it stands, Allen’s entry into the Crucible record books will remain as, alongside Wu, posting the longest-ever frame with the 14th clocking 1 hour 40 minutes.