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.

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, with Murphy beating Gary Wilson and Neil Robertson and Allen downing Si Jiahui and Mark Selby.

Shaun Murphy crafted a magnificent 147 break as he came from behind to beat Mark Allen 6-3 and secure his place in the Masters final at Alexandra Palace.

Shaun Murphy reached his third Masters final with a 6-3 win over Mark Allen, hitting a maximum break on his way to victory.

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.

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

The quarter-finals of the Masters begin in earnest on Wednesday. First up, Neil Robertson takes on Shaun Murphy from 13:00.

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.