Sport

Mark Allen knocked out of UK Championship by Martin Gould

Mark Allen during his match against Martin Gould on day seven of the Betway UK Snooker Championship at the York Barbican<br />Picture by PA&nbsp;
Mark Allen during his match against Martin Gould on day seven of the Betway UK Snooker Championship at the York Barbican
Picture by PA 
Mark Allen during his match against Martin Gould on day seven of the Betway UK Snooker Championship at the York Barbican
Picture by PA 

MARTIN GOULD knocked Mark Allen out of the UK Championship with a 6-4 victory to take his place in the last 16.

Both players produced consistent scoring during the early frames at York's Barbican Centre, with Allen, runner-up at the Champion of Champions in Coventry last month, making a century break of 107 to move 2-1 ahead. However, Gould responded with an unanswered 77 to level at the mid-session interval.

Pinner potter Gould then opened up a lead after taking the first two frames following the restart, but another ton from Antrim's Allen made it 4-3. Although Allen, who reached the 2011 UK Championship final, was able to again keep in touch at 5-4 after a break of 67 in frame nine, he was not able to take the match to a decider.

Gould kept his composure when given a chance back at the table to rattle off 98, which secured victory and a place in the last 16 of the tournament for the first time.

Shaun Murphy, the 2008 winner, completed a 6-2 victory over Ben Woollaston. Murphy set the tone with a break of 88 to win the first frame, and never looked like relinquishing his position as the 2015 Masters champion took three in-a-row to lead 5-1 before sealing his place in the last 16 with another century.

Stephen Maguire battled past Mark Davis 6-4. Maguire made two century breaks, of 125 and 127 to lead 4-1, but Davis also remained in the hunt when he scored 128 and followed up with a 77 to win frame seven.

Davis took the next 67-0 to level at 4-4, as Maguire failed to register a point for the third frame in succession. However, it was Maguire who prevailed, with breaks of 55 and then 84.

Tom Ford was the first player to take his place in the last 16 from Tuesday's afternoon session as he brushed aside Shanghai Masters champ Kyren Wilson 6-1. Ford reeled off no fewer than five half-century breaks as he opened up a commanding lead after Wilson had briefly reduced the arrears to 3-1 with a match-high 84.

The evening session will see Judd Trump play Liang Wenbo of China and Hong Kong potter Marco Fu meet David Gilbert.

Australian Neil Robertson, who beat Allen to claim the Champion of Champions title, takes on Thai cueman Thepchaiya Un-Nooh, while his compatriot Dechawat Poomjaeng tackles Mark Joyce.