Mark Allen Stunned in Thrilling Decider as David Lilley Triumphs at World Open

Mark Allen suffered a narrow 5-4 defeat to David Lilley in the second round of the World Open in Yushan, China. Despite delivering a strong performance that included two century breaks, notably a stunning 142 in the opening frame, Allen was ultimately edged out by Lilley, who sealed victory with a composed 77 in the deciding frame. The match was a high-quality contest, with both players demonstrating exceptional scoring ability—every frame featured a break of over 60.

Following the match, Allen took to X to express his thoughts, stating: “Decent game today but not to be. Great break from Dave in the last. Best of luck to him for the rest of the event. Hong Kong next up for me.”

It was also a tough day for Northern Ireland’s Jordan Brown, who fell to a 5-4 defeat against Zak Surety. Brown started well, compiling a superb 118 break in the opening frame and leading twice early on. However, Surety responded impressively, registering three centuries of his own, including a decisive 132 in the final frame to secure victory.

Meanwhile, Aaron Hill progressed to the last 32 after overcoming Sunny Akani in a hard-fought 5-3 victory. Hill now prepares for his upcoming clash against Jimmy Robertson on Tuesday, hoping to continue his strong form in the tournament.