Allen Overcomes Food Poisoning to Reach Masters Quarterfinals, Zhao Advances
A resilient performance saw Mark Allen overcome a debilitating bout of food poisoning to defeat Mark Williams 6-2, securing his place in the quarterfinals of the Masters. Meanwhile, Zhao Xintong continued his pursuit of snooker’s coveted triple crown with a dominant victory.
Allen, the 2018 champion, displayed remarkable fortitude after spending the week battling illness. He rallied to win five consecutive frames, ultimately overpowering Williams. “I prepare properly for these events, but I couldn’t prepare for this at all as I’ve been lying in bed all week with food poisoning,” Allen told the BBC. “I just thought: ‘Go out there and give my best.’ I wouldn’t have had much left if it had got much closer.” His quarterfinal opponent will be either Judd Trump or Ding Junhui, who are scheduled to play on Wednesday.
Zhao Xintong Eyes Snooker History
Zhao Xintong is one step closer to achieving snooker’s triple crown – winning the World Championship, the UK Championship, and the Masters – after a commanding 6-2 win against Gary Wilson at Alexandra Palace. The 28-year-old has already secured the World and UK titles, and his performance against Wilson showcased his ambition.
He reeled off four consecutive half-centuries, demonstrating exceptional form and control. “I could see a lot of fans supporting me so I feel very confident and I didn’t want to lose,” Zhao shared with the BBC. “This is my first win at Alexandra Palace.”
Zhao’s victory makes him the third Chinese player to reach the last eight of the tournament. He will face either John Higgins or Barry Hawkins in the quarterfinals, following their match on Tuesday night. The increasing presence of Chinese players in the latter stages of major tournaments signals a growing force within the sport.
