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THE MASTERS
Venue: Wembley Arena Date: 9-16 January Coverage: Live action & highlights on BBC Two, Red Button and BBC Sport website; updates and reports on BBC Radio 5 live and online; watch again on iPlayer; full details of BBC coverage
Fu blasts past Allen to reach Masters final
Hong Kong's Marco Fu produced a stunning fightback to beat Mark Allen 6-4 and make the Masters final.
Northern Irishman Allen was dominant at 4-1 after breaks of 70 and 66, but Fu stormed back with two centuries and a 97 to level the scores at 4-4.
Fu edged an agonising ninth after a battle over the colours before securing his triumph despite the late nerves.
The 16th seed will play the winner of the evening match between China's Ding Junhui and Wales' Jamie Cope.
It was an incredible turnaround for the man who only 15 hours before had secured a 6-0 whitewash over Peter Ebdon to reach another Masters semi-final, three years after losing to Stephen Lee.
While there was jubilation for Fu, it was heartache for world number 11 Allen, who had been desperately hunting his first major final having reached his sixth major last-four spot.
The Northern Ireland cueman started brightly, though, with a 70 and showed the form that helped him dump out Ronnie O'Sullivan and world champion Neil Robertson in earlier rounds.
Fu, though, hit back with an 82 to level the scores before the lively pair, who have impressed throughout the week with their long potting, engaged in a 35-minute frame which concluded with Fu scrapping for his life needing two snookers on the blue.
It was a fine example of the battling qualities of the 2008 Masters semi-finalist and in stark contrast to O'Sullivan throwing in the towel when needing the single snooker against Allen in the first round.
Allen survived and then a 66 ensured a two-frame advantage as he returned to the dressing room for an interval chat with coach Terry Griffiths - who would had to share his time with Fu - his other pupil.
The 33-year-old Fu looked set to pull one back with a 42 in the fifth frame but a missed red allowed his opponent to jump back to the baize and steal it with a 48.
Despite looking despondent in his chair, Fu burst out in the next frame to secure a stunning run of 130 - the 12th century at Wembley this week and, amazingly, his fourth.
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The momentum was turning towards Fu and the 18th seed was back in amongst the balls and only a green wobbling in the jaws denied him a second successive ton and ended his break on 97.
His masterclass continued with a break of 136 to level the scores and secure his third frame on the bounce.
Frame nine was a firecracker as the tension and drama built. Fu led 48-1 but Allen recovered to trail 48-32 as the Hong Kong star eventually came through a fascinating battle over the colours.
Fu then led 55-1 but Allen was soon sniffing a last-frame decider following a knock of 48, but the man who was Grand Prix champion in 2007 stayed cool under immense pressure and is now just one away from another trophy.
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Venue: Wembley Arena Date: 9-16 January Coverage: Live action & highlights on BBC Two, Red Button and BBC Sport website; updates and reports on BBC Radio 5 live and online; watch again on iPlayer; full details of BBC coverage
Fu blasts past Allen to reach Masters final
Hong Kong's Marco Fu produced a stunning fightback to beat Mark Allen 6-4 and make the Masters final.
Northern Irishman Allen was dominant at 4-1 after breaks of 70 and 66, but Fu stormed back with two centuries and a 97 to level the scores at 4-4.
Fu edged an agonising ninth after a battle over the colours before securing his triumph despite the late nerves.
The 16th seed will play the winner of the evening match between China's Ding Junhui and Wales' Jamie Cope.
It was an incredible turnaround for the man who only 15 hours before had secured a 6-0 whitewash over Peter Ebdon to reach another Masters semi-final, three years after losing to Stephen Lee.
While there was jubilation for Fu, it was heartache for world number 11 Allen, who had been desperately hunting his first major final having reached his sixth major last-four spot.
The Northern Ireland cueman started brightly, though, with a 70 and showed the form that helped him dump out Ronnie O'Sullivan and world champion Neil Robertson in earlier rounds.
Fu, though, hit back with an 82 to level the scores before the lively pair, who have impressed throughout the week with their long potting, engaged in a 35-minute frame which concluded with Fu scrapping for his life needing two snookers on the blue.
It was a fine example of the battling qualities of the 2008 Masters semi-finalist and in stark contrast to O'Sullivan throwing in the towel when needing the single snooker against Allen in the first round.
Allen survived and then a 66 ensured a two-frame advantage as he returned to the dressing room for an interval chat with coach Terry Griffiths - who would had to share his time with Fu - his other pupil.
The 33-year-old Fu looked set to pull one back with a 42 in the fifth frame but a missed red allowed his opponent to jump back to the baize and steal it with a 48.
Despite looking despondent in his chair, Fu burst out in the next frame to secure a stunning run of 130 - the 12th century at Wembley this week and, amazingly, his fourth.
Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. Davis, Hendry & co answer your snooker queries
The momentum was turning towards Fu and the 18th seed was back in amongst the balls and only a green wobbling in the jaws denied him a second successive ton and ended his break on 97.
His masterclass continued with a break of 136 to level the scores and secure his third frame on the bounce.
Frame nine was a firecracker as the tension and drama built. Fu led 48-1 but Allen recovered to trail 48-32 as the Hong Kong star eventually came through a fascinating battle over the colours.
Fu then led 55-1 but Allen was soon sniffing a last-frame decider following a knock of 48, but the man who was Grand Prix champion in 2007 stayed cool under immense pressure and is now just one away from another trophy.
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