Hazel Irvine issues apology to World Snooker Championship star on BBC | Other | Sport
But things could’ve been much different if Allen had sunk what would’ve been a match-winning black during a last-frame decider against Yize. It meant Allen’s wait to reach a maiden World Championship final goes on another year, but after a round-up of this year’s tournament played during the Murphy vs Yize interval, Irvine couldn’t bear to see the missed shot once again.
Speaking on the Beeb’s coverage following a montage of the tournament’s biggest moments, the Scottish presenter explained: “Nicely done Steve [Bracknall] aka Chris McClure, stage name, really genius stuff there. I still cannot watch Mark Allen’s missed black, I am really sorry Mark. But the grace in which he took that was extraordinary, wasn’t it?”
Sitting next to Irvine, John Parrott added: “Unbelievable. If you are watching pal, I am still hurting for you. I am absolutely am, I have never seen anything like it.”
It’s unlikely Allen would’ve been sat at home watching the missed effort, but the Northern Irishman did front up after the defeat, saying: “You don’t deserve to be in the world final if you’re missing balls like that
“That was just pure pressure to be honest. Normally I‘m pretty good under the pressure but just didn’t handle it well today. “I was probably more nervous at different stages of the match than I was on that black.
“I just threw a quick one in, I genuinely did. I just didn’t deliver the cue properly and I got what I deserved when you miss a black like that to win the match. I had two, three chances to close out the match and didn’t do it. But credit to Wu.”
Before adding: “The final frame was another opportunity to win. I was fine going into it – win the next frame, that’s what I always say. I was a little unlucky when I potted the pink, split the reds but didn’t land on anything.
“But I had more than enough chances to win. At the end of the match, I just wished Wu good luck and said he played very well. I think he’s going to be a world champion.”
