LONDON — Mark Allen produced a stunning five-frame burst to overturn a two-frame deficit and defeat Mark Williams 6-3 in a high-quality second-round clash at the 2026 Masters on Tuesday evening at Alexandra Palace.
The Northern Irishman, seeded third for the prestigious invitational, looked in serious trouble when three-time champion Williams raced into a 3-1 lead at the mid-session interval. However, Allen returned a transformed player, reeling off five consecutive frames with a devastating mix of break-building and tactical acumen to book his place in the quarter-finals.
Williams' Fast Start Meets Allen's Resolve
The match began at a ferocious pace, befitting two of the sport's most aggressive and prolific scorers. Williams, the Welsh Potting Machine, struck first with a break of 89 to take the opener. Allen responded immediately with a superb 134 total clearance, the first century of the match, to level at 1-1. Williams, however, was undeterred. He capitalised on a rare Allen error in the third to edge ahead again before the interval, and then emerged to craft a majestic 141 clearance in the fourth, the highest break of the tournament so far, to establish a commanding 3-1 lead.
At this stage, Williams appeared in complete control. Speaking after the match, Allen admitted the situation looked bleak: "At 3-1 down against Mark, you're staring down the barrel. He was playing fantastic stuff, scoring heavily, and I felt a bit lost out there. The interval came at the perfect time for me."
The Turning Point and a Five-Frame Blitz
The fifth frame proved to be the pivotal moment of the contest. A protracted safety battle ensued, with both players having opportunities. Allen eventually clinched it on the colours to stop Williams' momentum and narrow the gap to 3-2. That hard-fought win ignited the Pistol. He returned to the table in the sixth with renewed confidence, compiling a fluent 92 to level the match at 3-3. The shift in momentum was palpable. Allen's key adjustments included:
- Tightening his safety game, restricting Williams' easy scoring chances.
- Imposing his own attacking rhythm, taking on shots he was hesitant on earlier.
- Winning the crucial tactical exchanges in the middle of the table.
From there, Allen was unstoppable. He added breaks of 78 and 81 to move to the brink of victory at 5-3. The ninth frame saw Williams have a final chance, but a missed red to the centre pocket on 24 proved costly. Allen pounced, coolly dispatching a match-winning 67 to complete a remarkable 6-3 victory, celebrating with a determined fist pump to the captivated Ally Pally crowd.
Post-Match Reaction: Respect and Regret
The mutual respect between the two competitors was evident in their post-match interviews. A gracious Mark Williams conceded that Allen's post-interval performance was simply too strong. "I played well for four frames, but after the interval Mark was different class," said the Welshman. "He shut me out completely. I had one half-chance in the last frame and missed it, and that was that. He was too good."
For Allen, the victory was a testament to his mental fortitude, a quality he has worked extensively on in recent seasons. "A few years ago, I might have lost that match 6-1 or 6-2 after the start Mark had," he reflected. "But I've learned to stay patient, to trust my game even when it's not quite there at the start. Winning that scrappy fifth frame was massive—it gave me something to build on."
Looking Ahead: A Daunting Quarter-Final Awaits
The win sets up a blockbuster quarter-final clash for Allen against the winner of Wednesday's match between world number one and defending champion Ronnie O'Sullivan and the in-form Jack Lisowski. Allen, who won his maiden Masters title in 2024, is under no illusions about the challenge ahead, especially if it is the Rocket awaiting him. "You come here to play the best on the biggest stage," he stated. "Ronnie is the ultimate test here, but Jack is playing brilliantly too. I'll need to start better than I did today, but this win gives me great belief."
What This Result Means for the Tournament
Allen's comeback victory is a significant moment in the 2026 Masters narrative. It not only removes a major title contender in Mark Williams but also announces Allen's own credentials in emphatic fashion. His ability to switch gears and dominate a player of Williams' calibre for five straight frames sends a warning to the rest of the field. The performance underscored his evolution from a pure shot-maker into a complete, resilient match-player capable of winning in multiple ways—a prerequisite for claiming the sport's biggest trophies.
For Williams, it is a case of what might have been. His early form suggested he could make a deep run, but Allen's relentless surge highlighted the fine margins at the elite level. The Welsh legend will now turn his attention to the remaining ranking events of the season, while Allen prepares for a Thursday night quarter-final under the intense London spotlight, his title ambitions very much alive and well.
