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.

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.

Northern Ireland’s Mark Allen has no complaints after he was beaten in the semi-final of the Masters by Shaun Murphy at Alexandra Palace.