Mark Allen Beats Aaron Hill into NI Open Quarters

Home favourite Mark Allen beat Aaron Hill 4-1 at Belfast’s Waterfront Hall to reach the Northern Ireland Open quarter-finals, compiling a 137 break in the victory. Hill had reached the last 16 with wins over Lei Peifan — including two centuries — and earlier scalps such as Yang Gao and Barry Hawkins. The win capped a week in which Allen survived two successive final-frame deciders, edging Robert Milkins and Ben Woollaston 4-3 and compiling multiple centuries. Allen could face fellow Antrim player Jordan Brown in the quarter-finals, with Brown set to play Shaun Murphy; world number one Judd Trump and Tom Ford also progressed to the last eight. The result reinforces Allen’s status as a favourite at his home event as he chases a third Northern Ireland Open title and strong Home Nations Series form.