• German Masters Snooker

Allen sent packing by Swail in Berlin

Mark Allen is still to feature in a major final © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: Higgins mourning father's death
  
• News: O'Sullivan withdraws as German Masters begins
  

World No. 11 Mark Allen was a high-profile casualty in the German Masters after being dumped out by fellow countryman Joe Swail.

Allen, who enjoyed wins over Ronnie O'Sullivan and Neil Robertson en route to the semi-finals at the Masters last month, wasn't at his best as he went down 5-3.

Northern Ireland's Swail, ranked 45 in the world, raced into a 2-0 lead before breaks of 59 and 83 helped Allen claw his way back to 2-2. Swail restored his lead when he pinched frame five by a point but his opponent wasn't about to lie down and a classy 72 saw Allen draw level.

Swail regained the lead and he snatched a scrappy eighth frame to set up a last-16 clash with either Shaun Murphy or Ryan Day.

"I've had problems on and off the table in the last few years and that affected my concentration but now that is settled, I feel I'm getting back to my best," said Swail.

"Mark is one of the best players in the world and when we spoke last night, it was clear we didn't really want to face the other - we practice together a lot and it's not a game we wanted. But I'm delighted to get through and prove that there's life in the old dog yet."

Mark Selby crushed World Snooker Shootout champion Nigel Bond 5-1 to join Swail in the next round, while Graeme Dott was similarly dominant in an impressive win over Thai teenager Thanawat Thirapongpaiboon.

Bond never looked comfortable playing the longer format of the game and failed to lived with the Leicester cueman. Although the former Masters champion never found top gear - his highest break was 70 - he rarely had to, though he is likely to have to raise his game when he takes on next opponent Stephen Hendry.

The seven-time world champion's top-16 place is under threat but he gained a morale-boosting win against Judd Trump in the morning session. After his 5-2 triumph, Hendry said: "It was a big game for both of us and I think that showed. I need wins so every match is important but I'm also playing for my own pride too."

Also through is Masters champion Ding Junhui, who dispatched Matthew Stevens with consummate ease and he will play Peter Ebdon, who was solid in his 5-3 victory against Andrew Higginson.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.