Mark Allen reached his fourth rating ultimate of the season after sweeping apart Noppon Saengkham 6-1 within the final 4 of the World Grand Prix in Cheltenham.
Allen, the game’s in-form participant, blended gritty matchplay snooker with 4 breaks of fifty, together with a 127 within the fifth body, to cruise house.
The Northern Irishman, who will play both Shaun Murphy or Judd Trump within the ultimate, instructed ITV4: “I felt like I dominated from start to finish, but I’m just a bit disappointed that I didn’t see it out a bit easier.
“I don’t think I’ve ever won three ranking events in a season. It’s a tough match I’ll have ahead of me, but I’ve given myself a good chance.”
Earlier, Murphy dispatched Anthony McGill 5-4 of their quarter-final conflict, whereas Judd Trump overcame China’s Xiao Guodong 5-3.
Murphy, in search of his first title because the 2020 Welsh Open, believes Trump has had it too simple within the event up to now, and says he’s within the operating to trigger an upset.
“I think he’s won a lot of matches this week on reputation,” mentioned Murphy. “I think people have collapsed against him. I won’t be collapsing. He will have to beat me.”
Murphy led 3-1 in opposition to McGill and nudged again forward at 4-3 after McGill had levelled issues. The Scot hit a century to power the decider, however it was Murphy who received over the road.
Trump recovered from trailing 1-0 and 2-1 in opposition to world quantity 34 Guodong, earlier than stretching away and finishing his victory with a break of 117.
