Welsh Open: ‘Humongous’ fluke helps Yuan Sijun beat Mark Allen on day of upsets in Llandudno
Published 12/02/2025 at 19:23 GMT
Mark Allen was the latest big name to fall at the Welsh Open. On a day when home favourite Mark Williams was toppled by Stephen Maguire, Allen slipped to a 4-3 defeat to Yuan Sijun at Venue Cymru in Llandudno on Wednesday. Yuan had a huge slice of good fortune in the final frame. Watch and stream top snooker action, including the Welsh Open, live and on demand on Eurosport and discovery+
‘My goodness’ - Yuan benefits from huge fluke against Allen at Welsh Open
Video credit: TNT Sports
Yuan Sijun benefited from a "humongous" fluke to help him beat Mark Allen at the Welsh Open.
It was attritional stuff at Venue Cymru in Llandudno, as the final frame lasted 55 minutes.
Both players had chances to win the match, and it turned extremely cagey.
Yuan’s opportunity came and he potted the final red to edge in front.
The clearance on the colours did not look easy, with the difficulty level ramped up on account of a last-16 place being at stake.
After potting a brown, Yuan left himself with a tough yellow. He played it at pace, and it wriggled in the jaws of the top left before careering across the table and dropping into the right middle.
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Allen makes century break against Yuan at Welsh Open
Video credit: TNT Sports
"My goodness," said Alan McManus in the Eurosport commentary box. "An ashen-faced look of Mark and no wonder. What a fluke this is."
Yuan offered his hand by way of an apology, and went on to pot green and brown to leave Allen needing snookers.
The world No. 8 played on, but was unable to get a snooker and Yuan sealed victory when chipping the pink into the yellow pocket.
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"What an extraordinary final frame," said Dave Hendon in the Eurosport commentary box.
"The fluke was humongous right at the end," said Neal Foulds in the Eurosport studio. "He seems to find ways of making things difficult for himself.
"He is a very good player."
Reflecting on the fluke, Foulds added: "This is not a simple shot, but you’d expect him to get it. It is a very big fluke. We were behind the line and it was always in.
"You have to take them when they come.
"It is up there with as big a fluke you will see in a match."
Watch and stream top snooker action, including the Welsh Open, live and on demand on Eurosport and discovery+
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