Mark Allen survives scare as other top 16 players fall at English Open
09/17/2024 10:15 AM
Mark Allen survived a scare in his opening game at the English Open, edging out Long Zehuang 4-3 although other top 16 players are already on their way home.
The world number three was looking fine at 2-0 up on the Chinese star, but lost the next three with Long making breaks of 65, 67 and 69.
The Pistol took the match to a decider and then scrapped it out to get over the line and keep his hopes of a first title of the season alive, just.
‘I have to say I was very impressed,’ Allen said of the world number 71. ‘I’ve seen his results, didn’t know much about him, but he beat [Mark] Selby in qualifying for one of the China events. Lost a very close match to Gary Wilson, had a few good wins elsewhere.
‘He played some very good stuff in that match, I didn’t feel like I did much wrong from 2-0 up to the verge of going out.
‘It’s not like he’s a kid. He’s still young at 27, 28, but where’s he been if he can play to that sort of level?
‘I felt like I played alright, I didn’t score as heavy as I’d like to, but in general my game was good.’
That win books Allen a place in the last 32 against Lyu Haotian, although Gary Wilson and Tom Ford will not be in Brentwood at that stage after defeats on Tuesday.
Wilson was downed 4-3 by Ross Muir on Tuesday morning, while Ford was beaten 4-2 by Jiang Jun.
It’s been a pretty slow start to the season for Wilson, but not as troubling as Ford’s opening to the campaign, with the Leicester man really struggling.
The 41-year-old had to pull out of his Championship League group right at the start of the season, citing an ankle problem, and since then has won just one match.
He will have the chance to improve that record next week at the British Open when he takes on Gong Chenzhi in his opening contest.
World number 15 Jak Jones is the other top 16 member to be out already, losing to India’s Ishpreet Singh Chadha 4-3 on Monday, while world number nine Ding Junhui did not enter.
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
