ALLEN RISES TO THE OCCASION

Mark breaks from food poisoning with gutsy display to leave Williams feeling sick

- BY SHANE MACDERMOTT

MARK ALLEN climbed off his sick bed to send golden oldie Mark Williams packing at the Masters.

Two-time winner Williams, who turns 51 in March, became the oldest player to compete at the illustrious invitation event since 1989.

But world No.10 Allen, who has suffered with a bad bout of food poisoning in the buildup, secured his spot in an 11th Masters quarterfinal with a 6-2 walloping of wayward Williams at Alexandra Palace.

The 2018 Masters champion, who won five frames on the bounce, said: “I couldn't prepare at all because I've been in bed all week with food poisoning.

“I was always going to play, but I might have needed to wear a nappy for TV! It hasn't been a good week.

“I was lying in bed one night and suddenly needed to throw up and that was me for about six hours. Three days later I could hardly get out of bed.