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.

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.

Shaun Murphy makes 147 to help seal win over Mark Allen and reach Masters final - Murphy, who had missed a maximum chance earlier in the tournament, completed only the sixth perfect break in the history of the Masters.

Some more solid scoring and safety play from the Northern Irishmanextended his lead before Murphy won the third framewith a break of 66. A long red helped set Murphy, the 2015 champion, on his way to a run of 83 as he levelled the match at 2-2 at the mid-session interval.

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 is on the verge of a second Masters title after he established a 6-2 lead over Kyren Wilson at the end of the afternoon session of Sunday’s final. A magnificent 147 break by Murphy against Mark Allen had sent the ‘Magician’ into the showpiece at Alexandra Palace and he continued his fine form against world champion Wilson.

Allen, one of only four players to have previously achieved the feat at the Masters since its inception in 1975 along with Kirk Stevens, Ding Junhui (twice) and Marco Fu, shook Murphy by the hand and offered his congratulations. The Northern Irishman had led 2-0 before Murphy hit back with four frames in a row, eventually winning 6-3.

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

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 completed a 147 break in his Masters semifinal against Mark Allen at Alexandra Palace on Saturday.