Allen’s resistance wilting as Rocket takes control

RONNIE O’SULLIVAN finally began to dominate second-round opponent Mark Allen at the Crucible as he secured an overnight lead over the Northern Irishman.

Confident Allen had come into the match insisting that “favourites don’t always win”, but defending champion O’Sullivan is today just four frames from doing so to reach the Betfred.com World Championship quarter-finals.

Allen resumed level at 4-4 but lost the final two frames of yesterday’s afternoon session to fall 9-7 behind ahead of this morning’s conclusion.