Mark Allen Triumphs in Epic Decider Against Jack Lisowski to Seal Scottish Open Quarter-Final Spot

Mark Allen extended his impressive streak over Jack Lisowski with a nail-biting 4-3 victory in the third round of the Scottish Open at Meadowbank Sports Centre on Thursday evening. The win marked Allen’s sixth consecutive triumph over Lisowski, with the latter’s only recent success in their head-to-head coming at the 2023 Shoot Out. The match secured Allen’s spot in the quarter-finals as he continues his pursuit of another Scottish Open title, a tournament he famously won in 2018.

The match began with promise for Lisowski, who crafted an excellent century break to take the opening frame. Despite this strong start, Allen remained composed. While not replicating the dominant form he showed in his second-round demolition of Ryan Day, he demonstrated his hallmark resilience and tactical brilliance. “I thought it was a good game,” Allen said afterward. “There were a few mistakes, but overall, it was solid.”

Lisowski had a pivotal opportunity late in the decider when a split from the blue left him with a tricky red to the right middle pocket. Rather than playing safe, he opted for the aggressive shot, which ultimately backfired. Allen capitalized on the error with a masterful 68 break, leaving Lisowski needing a snooker to keep the match alive. Lisowski tried but eventually left a straightforward red for Allen. With the match effectively over, Lisowski conceded by rolling the green into a pocket.

Reflecting on the venue and his past success, Allen recalled his 2018 Scottish Open victory as part of a stellar year, saying, “Any tournament win is great, but doing it in a great city like Glasgow makes it even more special.”