Here are the reports by WST on day 4 at the 2024 Players Championship.

Afternoon session: Mark Allen 6-4 Gary Wilson

PISTOL EDGES WILSON IN FIERCE BATTLE

Mark Allen came through a fiercely contested clash with Gary Wilson, winning 6-4 after four hours and 15 minutes of play, to make the semi-finals of the Johnstone’s Paint Players Championship in Telford.

It will be the 37^th appearance in the last four of a ranking event for the Northern Irishman, who has already claimed silverware at the Shoot Out and the Champion of Champions this season.

Victory puts him in a strong position to qualify for the Johnstone’s Paint Tour Championship in Manchester in April. However, first of all, he now faces the prospect of a last four meeting with Ali Carter tomorrow evening.

Defeat for Wilson ends an impressive winning streak, which saw him lift ranking silverware for the third time last week with victory at the Welsh Open.

Before the mid-session Allen asserted his control in a fluent first four frames. Breaks of 84, 63 and 75 helped him to establish a 3-1 advantage.

When play resumed if became more fragmented. They both captured sets of consecutive frames to see Allen move one from victory at 5-3.

The ninth frame came down to the colours, with Allen eventually leaving himself a tricky black to top left with the white frozen to the cushion. He missed it and Wilson pulled one back and made it 5-4. Allen recovered from that set back and a fine break of 69 saw him over the line.

“It wasn’t the nicest shot in the world, but even under that pressure it is one you should still be getting. I hit it pretty well, but I just didn’t pot it. I regrouped, didn’t let it affect me and played some good safety at the start of the next frame and made a good break to win.”

Mark Allen

World Number Three

Allen added: “It was a match which started well for me. I should have pushed on from that. The balls started going scrappy, not from missing but from some good safety. There were some long and drawn out frames. I felt Gary got the better of that. I should have closed it out 6-3, but I made a really good break in the last frame when the balls were awkward.

“Ali has been very consistent, more than me this season. He has been knocking on the door for quite some time. Hopefully his time isn’t this week. He is playing some great snooker and is a great player. I think he has improved on the mental side of the game by working with Chris Henry. He is a match for anyone.”

It was a really good match, a long match too. How Gary Wilson has not had a better career so far is beyond my understanding. He’s a top, top player when on his game and, although he’s an “attacking player” he’s a match for anyone in the safety department. Mark Allen had to be at his best to beat him, and he was.

Evening Session: Mark Selby 6-0 Ronnie O’Sullivan

STUNNING SELBY DEMOLISHES O’SULLIVAN

Mark Selby scored a sensational 6-0 whitewash defeat of Ronnie O’Sullivan and blitzed to a place in the semi-finals of the Johnstone’s Paint Players Championship in Telford.

It was the first ranking event meeting between these illustrious rivals since the 2020 Scottish Open final where Selby scored another emphatic win, on that occasion by a 9-3 scoreline.

However, 41-time ranking event winner O’Sullivan still holds a 17-12 head-to-head advantage in meetings between the pair.

Victory this evening sends Selby into the semi-finals of a ranking event for the 62^nd time in his career. The four-time World Champion will play either John Higgins or Zhang Anda in the semis on Saturday night.

• 

• 

• 

• 

Defeat for O’Sullivan ends a 16-game winning streak. The seven-time Crucible king has been in imperious form this season. He came into this week having won consecutive events at the UK Championship, the Masters and the World Grand Prix. However, the Rocket was brought to a shuddering halt by Selby this evening.

The first five frames were completely dominated by Selby, who fired in breaks of 65, 91 81, 105 and 59 en route to moving one from victory. The final frame saw O’Sullivan establish a 58-0 lead, but Selby clawed his way back, aided by a stunning long range red to top right. He eventually took it on the black to complete the whitewash.

“If you can’t get up for playing Ronnie with a full crowd, which he always brings, then you are in the wrong game. That is where you want to test yourself. You see where your game is at when you are put against the best. At the moment my game seems to be in a good place.”

Mark Selby

22-time Ranking Event Winner

Selby added: “It is incredible really. I’m happy to win of course, but the way I did it was quite pleasing. I felt as though I was in control of myself and felt confident out there. I thought I was going to score when I got the chance and I did.

“Whoever I play, I’ll enjoy the occasion. If I play John, we’ve had so many great battles and I have so much respect for him as a player and a person. Anda has been one of the form players this season. It has been outstanding the way he has played.”

It was really a night to forget for Ronnie, he was poor. He kept trying but in vain. Mark Selby was excellent throughout. He played a positive, attacking game, went for his shots and it worked a treat. Mark scored heavily and, basically, kept Ronnie in his seat, never allowing him to settle or find any rhythm. That’s what he had to to and he did it brilliantly. Bravo Mark.

Ronnie will have no complaints but will be very disappointed. He certainly looked very disappointed leaving the arena and that’s actually a good sign: it hurts because he cares.

Here are the stats and scores, they say it all: