Allen wins Championship League final at third attempt - 03/03/2011

MARK Allen became the sixth man to qualify for the Winners’ Group in the Championship League Snooker as he won a final after two previous defeats.

Northern Irishman Allen had lost in the last match in Groups Four and Five – to Ali Carter and Ryan Day respectively – but beat Stephen Lee 3-0 in the Group Six conclusion.

Allen now advances to the Winners’ Group where he joins Mark Selby, Mark Williams, Shaun Murphy, Ali Carter and Ryan Day, with one spot still up for grabs.

The overall champion will qualify for Matchroom Sport’s prestigious Sky Sports-televised Premier League Snooker event in the autumn.

Allen hoped to qualify for the Premier League for the first time in 2011 after narrowly missing out in 2010 when he lost in the Championship League final to Marco Fu.

“To play in the Premier League would be a dream come true, especially after coming so close last year,” admitted Allen.

“I was 2-0 up and then Marco needed a snooker with only the pink and black left. That defeat hurt but I then tried to forget about it.

“But then in the first week of the Premier League I saw Marco playing in it and it brought it all back.

“You use the bad memories as good for the future as you try to not let them happen again. I blew my chance last year but I will take the positives from that and try to make sure I get through this time.

“It was third time lucky in the finals this year so I’m just happy to get to the Winners’ Group - that’s where everyone wants to be.

“Losing in two finals means you’re in a bit of money but I wasn’t going to be relaxed until I won a group.

“The most frustrating thing is you have to hang around for another two days. It’s great match practise against some of the best players in the world but they are very long days in the Championship League.”

Welshman Matthew Stevens had finished top after the round-robin league phase but he suffered a 3-0 defeat against Allen in the semi-final, while Lee booked his spot in the final with a 3-1 success over Mark King.

China’s Liang Wenbo finished fifth in the group but 2009 Championship League winner Judd Trump was eliminated, along with tournament debutant Mark Davis.

The last regular group takes place on Monday, March 21 and Tuesday, March 22 and will feature Marco Fu, Martin Gould, Andrew Higginson, Mark King, Liang Wenbo, Matthew Stevens and Judd Trump before the Winners’ Group on Wednesday, March 23 and Thursday, March 24.

FINAL
Table one - Mark Allen 3-0 Stephen Lee
64-59 (Allen 63, Lee 59), 72-0 (Allen 71), 119-13 (Allen 119)