Allen delivers Masters class to win first-ever triple crown title
Antrim man becomes first from NI to win tournament in 31 years
Last updated 22nd Jan 2018
Mark Allen became Northern Ireland’s first Masters champion in 31 years last night after a dramatic 10-7 win over Kyren Wilson at the Alexandra Palace.
It was the Antrim man’s first-ever Triple Crown title and he scooped the biggest pay day of his career in the process – a cool £200,000.
The 31-year-old dedicated his win to fans across Northern Ireland.
He will parade his trophy during a homecoming exhibition match in Belfast tonight.
Dennis Taylor was the last snooker star from Northern Ireland to lift the trophy in 1987 and it has been 40 years since Alex Higgins won his first Masters title.
After the game Allen said: “It's surreal, it's been a long time coming.
“I felt calm all week, apart from the first session today, but I felt as the match went on I got stronger. I'm very, very pleased to be on the right end of it for a change.
“What a competitor Kyren Wilson is. It's not a nice feeling, but how far has he come in these last few years?''
A tearful Wilson said: I've had an incredible week, if anyone was going to beat me I'd have loved it to have been Mark. He deserves it.''
Allen, the World Number Eight had already seen off Ronnie O’Sullivan in the tournament.
He is hoping he can kick on from now and complete the triple crown package with the UK and World Championships titles