Mark Allen had a grim build-up to the Masters, concerned that he ‘might have needed to wear a nappy’ during his first round win over Mark Williams.
Food poisoning wiped out the Pistol ahead of the huge event at Alexandra Palace, meaning his practice was seriously curtailed.
However, he looked in pretty good nick as he beat Mark Williams 6-2 on Monday afternoon, while the Welsh legend really struggled.
Williams battled to 2-2 at the interval but then the Northern Irishman powered away, and was glad that he only had to play eight frames.
‘I felt comfortable which is weird because I couldn’t prepare for this at all, I was lying in bed all week with food poisoning,’ said Allen.
‘I just thought I’d go out and give it my best. I wouldn’t have had much left if that had went much closer so I’m glad I got over the line when I did.
‘I was always going to play, I just might have needed to wear a nappy for TV. It wasn’t a good week.’
Asked by TNT Sports what had caused the problem, he explained: ‘I wish I knew. Lying in bed one night, all of a sudden needed to go and throw up and that was me for about six hours and three days later just could hardly get out of bed. The last few days trying to prepare for this, just very, very weak.’
Even a drained Allen was too much for Williams, who was a long way from his brilliant best.
‘Just pretty poor really. I think my highest break was 35, it’s not very good,’ said the 50-year-old. ‘I’m going to get those performances more and more as my career goes on, I’ve just got to accept that.
‘I tried, even though it looked like I probably didn’t try, I tried my best but my boy had more breaks than me at the weekend in a junior comp. He’ll give me some stick, I expect.’
He added: ‘I’ve accepted I can’t play as well as I used to. I might put the odd good performance in now and again but the majority is going to be like that. I’ve accepted it. It’s no problem. I’m not disappointed in the slightest, I was never in the match to be disappointed. I enjoyed the occasion, packed house, unfortunately I just played crap.’
He went still further on X, adding: ‘I think that is probably the worst I ever played as a pro tbh.’
Allen won’t care, though, who is into the quarter-finals of the Masters for an 11th time.
‘I’m not getting carried away,’ said the 39-year-old. ’11th quarter-final but I’ve only won it once so I need to try and sort that out and this is as good a week as any to try and do that.’
The Pistol was tinkering with cues before Christmas, swapping to new equipment for a run to the Scottish Open semis, but he gave that one away to a fan and has returned to his previous option.
‘I’m good now, back to the original cue,’ he said. ‘My head went after the UK [Championship first round exit], changed cue for Scotland. I’m back to the original cue, I’m happy.’
Allen also had a message for Ronnie O’Sullivan, surprised that the Rocket withdrew from the Masters on Friday, citing mental health reasons.
‘I was very surprised,’ said Allen. ‘I practiced with him just before the UK as well. What he was saying to me was towards that he was definitely going to play here.
‘I hope whatever’s gone on, he’s ok, because the game’s better with him in it.’
The Pistol now faces either Judd Trump or Ding Junhui in the quarter-finals, while later on Monday evening Zhao Xintong beat Gary Wilson 6-2 to book a spot in the last eight against John Higgins or Barry Hawkins.
