Ryan Day led 3-2 before Mark Allen took control

Ryan Day admitted he was always playing catch-up snooker after losing his quarter-final 13-11 to Mark Allen. The Welshmen led 3-2 early on but after that Allen took control of the last eight clash.

"I'm bitterly disappointed to lose. I didn't feel that I played well enough in the early part of the match," said Day. "I couldn't get it back on an even keel after letting the lead slip. I was always playing catch-up."

Allen had engineered a 9-7 lead in yesterday's two sessions of play, and brilliantly protected his advantage. Added the 29-year-old from Pontycymmer: "I was telling myself that we were both going for something that we hadn't achieved so far.

"I hoped that he might feel the pressure come on when he got to 12. "It just happened that he potted a mid-distance red in the last frame and got quite an easy opportunity where all the balls were already open.

"He managed to keep himself together and a make a good break. I was just fighting for my life." Northern Irishmen Allen, who beat Ronnie O'Sullivan in the second round, goes on to face either John Higgins or Mark Selby in the semi-final.