Northern Ireland’s Mark Allen won five frames in a row as he came from behind to defeat Wales’ Mark Williams 6-2 in the first round of the Masters – despite suffering from illness before the tournament.
In a match between two former champions, Allen took the opener thanks to a break of 67, before 50-year-old Williams battled to take the next two to lead 2-1.
Allen, 39, made a break of 54 in frame four to ensure it was 2-2 at the mid-session interval and then raised his game with breaks of 60, 125 and 70 to take control of the match.
Speaking to the BBC after the match, Allen revealed his preparations had been hampered.
“I felt comfortable, which is weird,” said Allen. “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, so I just thought ‘go out there and give my best’.
“I wouldn’t have had much left if it had got much closer.”
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