Neil Robertson backs Mark Allen for Ladbroke Mobile Masters

Neil Robertson declared Mark Allen favourite for the Ladbroke Mobile Masters after the former West Midlands & Staffordshire League player ousted the world champion to reach the semi-finals.

Robertson came away from the 6-4 defeat feeling there was little he could have done differently with Allen, who goes on to play Marco Fu in the last four today, making five half-centuries to his opponent's four in a clash requiring three hours to complete.

The result also means all the top eight seeds have been knocked out.

Australian Robertson said: "I can't really fault my performance and say I played badly. Mark played really well and in my opinion he is now the favourite to win the tournament.

"It depends on how he plays in the role of favourite because sometimes that can bring extra pressure."

Allen, the former boyfriend of Gornal's Women's World Snooker Champion Reanne Evans, added: "I can't get carried away but I can take great confidence from that.

"If I can beat the world champion and Ronnie then it just shows where my game is as well. I don't remember an easy ball missed."

Allen, 24, who played for Baggeridge Social during his time in the West Midlands, is the first Northern Irish player to reach the last four in this tournament since Dennis Taylor 24 years ago.

Fu booked his semi-final spot with a comprehensive 6-0 thrashing of Peter Ebdon.