Jagerbomb-sinking Mark Allen says winning the World Championship won’t change him as a person.
The grounded Antrim ace, 37, famously celebrated his maiden Northern Ireland Open triumph in 2021 by filling the crystal trophy with Jagermeister and Red Bull.
Ambitious Allen is back into the one-table set-up at the Crucible for the first time since 2009 and has a shot at reaching a first world final — where the worthy winner will pocket the cheque for £500,000.
Allen, who led 5-3 overnight, will resume today 7-6 behind after his second session against four-time winner Selby was called off THREE frames early for slow play.
Play was halted so the arena could be turned around for the penultimate session of the other semi-final.
The Northern Irish potter won the first frame of the session but he got drawn into Selby’s trap as the match went scrappy.
World No.2 Selby pinched the second frame despite needing a snooker after Allen got in first with a 60 break.
And Selby continued to grind the Pistol down as he scraped ahead in the race to 17.
The laser-focused Pistol fired himself up the rankings with three ranking crowns this season, including a huge memorable UK title in November.
And the title-chasing world No 3 knows his place in the sport’s history would be greatly elevated as he’d become only the 12th player to complete the coveted Triple Crown; World Championship, UK Championship and Masters.
“It would probably change my place in the history of the game,” admitted Allen. “But I wouldn’t like to think it would change me?
“It’s not something I’m thinking about now, but when I look back on the end of my career it would be great to be a part of that.
“It would be a dream come true to win the World Championship.
“But I’m still going to be Mark Allen who likes Jagerbombs, and that’s not going to change!
"I’ll still have my circle of friends that I’ve always had. I’ve got good people around me and I feel like I’m a good person and I don’t think that will change.
“I wouldn’t like to think I’d get big-headed or anything like that. I don’t think it will change me at all, but I’d love to be in that position on Monday night.
“That’s what I play for, to try and create my own little bit of history.”
Hungry Allen has put in the work off the table and believes the proof is in the pudding after his fine Sheffield run.
The left-hander shed over six-and-a-half-stone with a strict diet regime and linked up with sports psychologist Paul Gaffney.
With mind and body right, Allen feels it’s his best ever chance to finally crack the Crucible cauldron.
He said: “Getting here has vindicated all of the work I’ve put in off the table.
“I never knew what was going to happen in my game and whether it was going to help or hinder. I knew it would help health wise but I didn’t know what it would do for my snooker.
“But the signs have been really good. It’s my sixth semi-final of the season and nine quarter-finals.
“Going deep at Sheffield is the ultimate goal and the ultimate reward for the sacrifices I’ve made over the last year.
“I don’t want to rest on those laurels. I want to keep doing it year-on-year.”
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