Mark Allen gifts Ali Carter victory with early concession at the World Grand Prix
A dejected Allen looks on (credit: George Wood/Getty Images)
Mark Allen conceded the final frame of his clash with Ali Carter at the 2019 World Grand Prix despite trailing by just 24 points to two.
Allen incredibly came forward to shake Carter’s hand midway through the fifth frame at 3-1 down and just 22 points behind after missing a yellow.
The premature concession was met with a warning from the referee, but Allen confirmed his wish to end the match and send Carter through to the Quarter-Finals in Cheltenham.
The Northern Irishman, who was seeded number one in the prestigious ranking event, is likely to face disciplinary action for a breach of WPBSA rules.
It began well for Allen as he made a break of 85 to take the opening frame, before Carter replied with an 86 and edged successive low-scoring frames to move 3-1 ahead.
But a routine missed yellow off the spot in the fifth frame, in which he also went in-off with the cue ball, proved to be the breaking point for Allen in the following frame as he called time on the contest, much to the shock of the crowd and his opponent.
World Snooker (@WorldSnooker) February 7, 2019
Mark Allen (@pistol147) February 7, 2019