Northern Ireland’s Mark Allen has no complaints after he was beaten in the semi-final of the Masters by Shaun Murphy at Alexandra Palace.

Mark Allen has tried to play down his feud with Shaun Murphy ahead of a crunch meeting between the pair at the Masters. The two rivals will go head-to-head at the semi-final stage at Alexander Palace, having both looked in assured form this week.

Shaun Murphy hailed one of the greatest moments of his career after he produced a maximum 147 break in his Masters semi final win over Mark Allen. The former world champion came close to achieving the feat in the previous round against Neil Robertson but managed to snooker himself behind the blue attempting to get up to the yellow.

Allen, one of only four players to have previously achieved the feat at the Masters since its inception in 1975 along with Kirk Stevens, Ding Junhui (twice) and Marco Fu, shook Murphy by the hand and offered his congratulations. The Northern Irishman had led 2-0 before Murphy hit back with four frames in a row, eventually winning 6-3.

Mark Allen and Shaun Murphy meet in the semi-finals of the Masters on Saturday after a ‘difference of opinion’ has left the former good mates ‘not as close as we once were.’ Both players have looked good at Alexandra Palace this week,

Shaun Murphy produced a moment of magic in his Masters semi-final against Mark Allen, sinking a sensational 147 maximum break to lead the contest 4-2.

Shaun Murphy compiles only the sixth 147 maximum break in the history of the Masters, in his semi-final against Mark Allen.

Shaun Murphy compiles only the sixth 147 maximum break in the history of the Masters, in his semi-final against Mark Allen.

Shaun Murphy completed a 147 break in his Masters semifinal against Mark Allen at Alexandra Palace on Saturday.

Shaun Murphy misses out on a maximum 147 break as he secures a place in the semi-finals of the Masters with a superb 6-2 victory over Neil Robertson at Alexandra Palace.