Mark Allen has responded to criticism from seven-time champion Stephen Hendry
Mark Allen fired back at seven-time champion Stephen Hendry for “talking rubbish” after storming into the quarter-finals of the World Snooker Championship in Sheffield.
Hendry had been highly critical of the Antrim man’s shot selection during the opening session of his second-round clash against Kyren Wilson on Thursday, as Allen squandered a commanding 5-0 lead.
However, Allen bounced back to seal a 13-9 victory on Saturday morning before turning his sights on Hendry, asserting: “Stephen’s entitled to his opinion, but more often than not, he’s full of rubbish, to be honest.”
Allen went further, adding: “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 claimed four of the first six frames in Saturday’s morning session to overcome the 2024 champion, and will now face either Barry Hawkins or Wales’ three-time champion Mark Williams in the last eight.
Wilson, who defeated Jak Jones to clinch the 2024 title, had reeled off six consecutive frames to take a 6-5 advantage before a tense back-and-forth battle ensued. Allen then won the final two frames in Friday’s session, aided by a stunning 140-break, to nudge 9-7 ahead.
Wilson pulled one back on Saturday morning with a score of 78 in the opening frame, but Allen responded with breaks of 78 and 61 to move 11-8 clear and, despite dropping the next frame, held his nerve to progress. Neil Robertson, the 2010 champion, let slip a 4-1 advantage in the opening session of his second-round clash with Chris Wakelin.
The Australian had reeled off four consecutive frames after dropping the first, but world number 13 Wakelin fought back, compiling a break of 77 to halt the momentum and claiming the final two frames of the morning session to draw level.
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