MARK ALLEN seized on an “unforgivable” blunder by his opponent Barry Hawkins today to book his place in the semi-finals of the World Snooker Championship for the second time in four years.

The Antrim man looked set to be hauled into a nerve-shredding decider after Hawkins fluked a red and was faced with a simple tap up behind the pink to leave Allen in all sorts of trouble.

But Hawkins inexplicably came up short with the cue ball, instead plunging himself into problems and ultimately gifting Allen the chance to clear up and win the match 13-11.

“I wouldn’t have fancied going 12-12,” admitted Allen. “My heart sank a little bit when he fluked that red out of the snooker and that summed up the match for me. I played 24 frames and I don’t think I had to say sorry once.”

Hawkins, the 2013 runner-up, held the upper-hand for most of the contest, with Allen required to haul back 7-4 and 8-6 deficits, but increasingly faltered on the big balls in the final session, leading to the dramatic conclusion.

“It’s unforgivable not reaching it,” admitted Hawkins. “I was worried about over-hitting it, believe it or not. I didn’t want to twitch, throw a quick one in and push the white past. But I just didn’t go through the ball.

“I was just thinking, that’s it, game over. I was gutted, obviously. What a way to lose. It’s a horrible feeling, knowing that you played an absolutely terrible shot. It’s just gutting, a sinking feel, after such a long match and playing well for the most part.”

Allen first reached the semi-finals as a fresh-faced 23-year-old in 2009, when he almost retrieved a 13-3 deficit against John Higgins, eventually losing 17-13 but prompting Higgins to describe his opponent as a “street fighter.”

Allen said: “I think I have always had that. I think it’s just being from Northern Ireland, we’re all the same in all sports, we have a never-say-die attitude.

“I still haven’t been anywhere near my best but I’m in the semi-final. Ninety-five per cent of the tour would snap your hand off for that. Maybe I should try to talk myself up a little bit because maybe there’s a lot more good snooker that I’m just not believing in.

“Every year I come here thinking I can win it, and it’s no different this year. The first hurdle is getting through that first round, and the next one is ‘can you get to the one-table set-up.’ Then you want to give yourself a chance on Sunday or Monday. I haven’t done that yet and that’s the next step for me.”

Neil Robertson maintained his two-frame advantage over John Higgins, carving out a 9-7 lead in a match set to play to its completion tonight after the Morning Star goes to print.