The thunder from down under has had a few uncertainties this week & Mark Allen from Antrim, NI is a test
Neil Robertson 6-5 Mark Allen Match Result
Frame 1: Mark has the first real chance after a scrappy start, 20 his break. Neil responds with a fine 66 missed red into green pocket, Neil takes the frame after Mark concedes after missing a pink.
Frame 2: The man from Antrim got in again 38 this time, Neil pots a stunning long red then Mark Allen pounces to take the frame with a nice break of 49 up to the yellow.
Frame 3: Neil in the balls 73 frame is his.
Frame 4: Mark Allen starts the fourth frame in a good mood a lovely break of 138.
Frame 5: The Northern Irishman has began where he left off a 72 in one visit.
Frame 6: 111 from Neil levels this one again
Frame 7: Mark Allen potting some good balls here missed a black on 20 though, this frame has had a few mistakes Neil takes it.
Frame 8: 68 from Mark puts him in pole position that wins the frame.
Frame 9: 101 from Neil quite brilliant.
Frame 10: A nice break from Mark Allen 60 is a good start Robbo made 39, but the man from Antrim takes the frame WE'RE GOING ALL THE WAY!
Frame 11: A outrageous pot on a red gives Neil a chance century to end a fantastic match champions pedigree 105 to win it!
Defending champion Neil Robertson beat Mark Allen 6-5 in a gripping Masters quarter-final at Alexandra Palace.
The pair shared the first four frames, as Allen knocked in a 138 clearance.
A 72 allowed Allen to edge ahead, but the Aussie hit back by winning the next two, including a superb 111 break.
The Northern Irishman struck 68 to level at 4-4 and Robertson's 101 put him one away. Allen forced a decider and he laid a snooker, but his opponent escaped, making a century for the win.
Robertson will face either Shaun Murphy or John Higgins in Saturday's semi-final.
"It was fantastic quality throughout. There was some tension in a couple of the frames and I did not think it would get harder after playing Ding [Junhui] but over the moon to get through," Robertson told BBC Sport.
"You only want one chance in the final frame. I did try to pot the red [after the snooker] and I apologised to Mark after, it is a hard way for him to go out.
"You don't want to lose in the first round, which happened to me after winning the World Championship, and I have defended titles before which gives me belief that I can do it again."
A tremendous battle between the two left-handers was packed with high-quality snooker, as four centuries and five breaks over 60 were compiled.
Robertson, 30, now has the chance of becoming only the fourth man to defend the Masters crown after Cliff Thorburn, Stephen Hendry and Paul Hunter.
But for Allen, whose 138 break is the highest of the tournament so far, it was a desperate defeat having competed valiantly from start to finish, not seeing himself more than one frame behind at any time.
He had gone 60 in front in the crucial 10th frame, missing a red to the centre pocket and Robertson had the chance to launch a counter-attack for victory but failed to capitalise.
Allen thought he gained the upper hand after playing a delicate snooker in the last, but saw Robertson escape with a pot on a red, before making 105 to triumph.
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