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Mark Allen out of the Masters after semi-final loss to Ali Carter

The Antrim man struggled to find his top form in the last-four clash

Mark Allen lost 6-3 to Ali Carter (Adam Davy/PA)

MARK Allen ran into an inspired Ali Carter in Saturday’s semi-final of the MrQ Masters at the Alexandra Palace in London.

The Londonder included three centuries a row in his 6-3 victory over the Antrim man, which sets up a final clash with Ronnie O’Sullivan on Sunday.

Allen had taken the opening frame but after Carter levelled with a 71 break, he then fired in runs of 100, 101 and 105 to move 4-1 up. Allen replied with a century of his own and won the seventh frame too to narrow the gap to 4-3 but Carter kept his nose in front and closed out the victory in frame nine on the pink.