Judd Trump was relieved to get over the tricky hurdle of Mark Allen as he reached the semi-finals of the 2026 Masters on Thursday.
The world number one is chasing a hat-trick of titles at the Alexandra Palace following previous Masters successes in 2019 and 2023.
After the opening four frames of the contest were shared, Trump pinched what transpired to be a pivotal fifth frame on the black.
That seemed to spur the Englishman on as he reeled off the following three frames to secure a 6-2 triumph.
Trump has often found it hard against Allen in the past, suffering from a losing head-to-head record against the Northern Irishman including several defeats in finals.
The 36 year-old hinted that Allen isn’t an opponent he particularly enjoys playing, so he’ll be glad to have moved on in the competition unscathed.
“It was a difficult game,” Trump, who is bidding to claim silverware for the first time since the 2024 UK Championship, said on the BBC.
“I struggled a little bit and didn’t have my best. I’m pleased, because that was a very important clearance at 2-2. It changed the game.”
“The table wasn’t playing like I expected – like in the first game. I just didn’t have my timing or something felt a little bit different.
“I knew it was one of those games where every shot is a pint of blood. I didn’t feel confident, but I just tried to will the balls in.
“I’ve always struggled against him. I think against the rest of the top 16 I play really well, but there’s something about him.
“He drags me down for some reason. I never play my best against him, but I didn’t really need it in the end today, which is lucky for me.”
For Allen, the reigning English Open champion will be left to rue missed opportunities to seize control of the affair.
The 2018 Masters champion lost two frames on the black, most importantly the fifth frame when a break of 68 ended with a missed red and resulted in a clearance from his esteemed opponent.
“I think that turned it,” Allen said to the BBC. “I was disappointed to be 2-2 at the interval. I felt like I played the better snooker in the first four and should have been 3-1 up.”
“Then I felt like I was going to push on, I was on a break of 68, but I missed the red and that changed everything.
“He made a great clearance there, but not only that, he looked all at sea with his positional play early on in the match, but whenever he made that clearance, that settled him.
“He played much better as the match went on – he got very strong. The break he made in frame six was another great break.
“I’m disappointed, because I think on another day I’m probably 4-1 up after five.”
Trump, meanwhile, will face John Higgins in the semi-finals on Saturday after the Scot came from behind to deny Zhao Xintong in a 6-5 thriller.
The two remaining quarter-final ties take place on Friday, with an all-Chinese clash featuring Xiao Guodong and Wu Yize to be followed by a battle of the former world champions between Neil Robertson and Kyren Wilson.
Featured photo credit: WST
A clash of styles for the Juddernaught against Mark Allen, but he genuinely seemed out of touch for the first 4 frames of this match! I was thinking that Allen really needed to capitalise at that stage of the contest but he couldn’t.
Trump into his fifth consecutive Triple Crown semi-final.
Zhao Xintong has exited at both of his Masters appearances to John Higgins
Wu has just delivered the most impressive display I’ve watched in this year’s event. He’s into a maiden Triple Crown semi.