Allen recovers from poor start to secure victory
Former world number one Mark Allen overcame an "absolutely embarrassing" first session to defeat China's Zhang Anda 10-6 and advance to the last 16 of the World Snooker Championship.
After trailing 5-3 following Saturday's opening session at the Crucible without a single break of 50, Northern Ireland's Allen spent the evening "having some drinks with my mates, a few more drinks, some bets and watching the football".
However, on Sunday, Allen displayed a markedly improved performance.
The 40-year-old began his comeback with an impressive clearance of 140 in frame 11, followed by a break of 109 in frame 12.
He continued his resurgence with a third century in five frames, a 129 break in frame 15, bringing him within one frame of victory, which he secured with an 81 break in the 16th frame.
Zhang, who has exited in the first round in all six of his Crucible appearances, managed only 42 points across the final six frames as Allen advanced.
Mark Allen's post-win interview
'Drinks, bad food and football' - how Allen took his mind off playing woes
"I was so frustrated yesterday - I've been doing things so well on the practice table, being in the gym and eating well," said Allen.
"After that match yesterday I just went out and had a few drinks and a burger.
"I thought, 'I can't play any worse than yesterday'. I was so down on myself, I didn't want to talk to anyone after that session yesterday.
"So I went out, had a few bets and watched the football with my mates. A bit of bad food... and slept really well last night and played much better today."
Allen, who will face either 2024 champion Kyren Wilson or 19-year-old Stan Moody in the next round, admitted he did not anticipate the match unfolding as it did.
"Yesterday was absolutely embarrassing, very frustrating and I was completely gutted with my performance," Allen said. "I came in today with less expectations but when you're out there you realise how much you want it and the fire in your belly comes back.
"I can't have many more sessions like I did yesterday. I got away with one there. It's not good enough at this level. That second session was decent but I've been here for 20 years and I would like to think there's been better ones.
"I need to be doing that every single time I play here. Ronnie [O'Sullivan], [John] Higgins and [Mark] Selby produce that type of session every time."
Allen has reached the semi-finals of the World Championship twice, in 2009 and 2023, and has won two-thirds of snooker's Triple Crown - the Masters in 2018 and the UK Championship in 2022.
He has secured a total of 12 ranking titles and held the world number one position for three months in 2024, but acknowledged that his career would feel incomplete without a World Championship title.
"I'm not going out drinking on Wednesday. I just felt something needed to change (...) If I hadn't done that I would've imploded," Allen said.
"I want to be world champion. It will be a disappointing career for me if I look back and I haven't won it.
"I just want it so much - I would rather have that feeling than not care. You want to win the World Championship - that's why you start to play as a 12-year-old."
Carter fights back after falling four behind to Higgins
Four-time winner John Higgins started strongly against two-time runner-up Ali Carter, taking a 4-0 lead with Carter potting only 14 balls and scoring 37 points during that period.
However, the momentum shifted after the mid-session interval, with Carter producing breaks of 91 and 74 to win the next five frames and take a 5-4 lead heading into Monday's second session.
China's Ding Junhui holds a commanding 7-2 lead over England's David Gilbert following a dominant opening session.
Gilbert, 44, a two-time semi-finalist who won two qualifying matches to reach the Crucible, failed to score any points in four of the nine frames and accumulated just 83 points in the final seven frames.
Ding, who was runner-up in 2016, made breaks of 94 and 100 and is three frames away from securing a last-16 match against compatriot Zhao Xintong, the reigning champion.
Barry Hawkins led 7-2 after the first session against Matthew Stevens. Stevens won the first two frames on Sunday to narrow the gap to three, but Hawkins pulled away to claim a 10-4 victory.
Both players expressed dissatisfaction with the conditions on table two. Stevens commented:
"The conditions were really tough out. A few people have said the cushions are a bit bouncy, but it's the same for both players.
"It's the worst I felt [here], it spoilt the game a bit and the conditions were really disappointing."
Hawkins added:
"It was no good at all. I don't like slating the conditions and the fitters do a great job. The cushions, they [the balls] are coming off so much quicker than they are coming in and it's so hard to control the cue ball and you have no confidence in your cueing.
"I don't know what it's going to be like for those on Tuesday, it's going to be like a ping-pong table."
In response, the World Snooker Tour issued a statement:
"There are always challenges in providing the best possible conditions for players as there are many factors which affect this.
"Our dedicated team of table fitters work tirelessly in delivering the best possible conditions and they are constantly monitoring the tables. We have systems in place where players can give feedback after every match."
Three-time winner Mark Williams leads 6-3 against Polish debutant Antoni Kowalski, 22, with the match resuming in Sunday's evening session. Meanwhile, Xiao Guodong holds a 5-4 advantage over fellow Chinese player Zhou Yuelong.
