Mark Allen believes his experience will be key in Sunday’s Masters final when he takes on rising star Kyren Wilson. The Northern Irishman has enjoyed a good run at Alexandra Palace seeing off Ronnie O’Sullivan 6-1 prior to his semi-final clash with John Higgins on Saturday. The 31-year-old always looked in control after initially opening up a 3-1 lead with breaks of 63 and 90 before Higgins hinted at a comeback by taking the fifth when he made 131. Allen took the next frame as he edged towards victory, however, Higgins hit back again with another ton before the match was eventually decided in the ninth frame and the world number eight ran out a 6-3 winner.
The Pistol’s reward is a meeting with world number 14 Wilson in Sunday’s showpiece event and he believes his vast experience will play a big role. Allen has entered the Masters on nine occasions, having reached the semi-finals twice and the quarter-finals five times. “I’m slightly more experienced on the bigger stage,” said Allen. “He’s done brilliantly to reach the top 16, but I’m in my 16th or 17th final. “I’ll go out and play the way I’ve done all week – I’ll play my shots. “It will be about controlling the emotions and the two players in the final are those who have controlled their emotions the best this week.”
Wilson goes into to Sunday’s final as the slight underdog and can be backed at 6/4 to triumph, while Allen is priced at 8/15 to come out on top.
Dafabet Masters odds available at Dafabet.