RICKY WALDEN sent Mark Allen crashing out of the UK Championship late last night.
He gained revenge for his semi-final defeat to the Northern Irishman two years ago by booking another last-four spot with a 6-2 victory.
Allen, who had a problem with his cue that he had to repair during the interval, struggled to such an extent in the first four frames that his highest break was just 20.
He took the sixth frame to trail 4-2 but Walden fashioned a superb 96 to need just one frame for victory and wrapped it up with some courageous potting.
Defending champion Mark Selby, meanwhile, was locked in a tense battle to remain in the tournament.
The Leicester potter, who beat Shaun Murphy to take the crown at the Barbican 12 months ago, trailed Barry Hawkins 5-3 as The Press was published.
Hawkins tied the highest break of the tournament, 142, in the fourth frame but Selby battled back to reduce the gap.
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