World Snooker Championship: Mark Allen beats Ryan Day 10-3

Mark Allen reached the semi-final of the World Championship in 2009

Mark Allen won nine consecutive frames to clinch a 10-3 win over Ryan Day in the World Championship first round at Sheffield's Crucible Theatre.

The Northern Irishman trailed the Welsh qualifier 2-0 and 3-1 but fought back to lead 6-3 after the morning session.

Allen, 29, was in scintillating form in the evening session, winning the next four frames in 75 minutes and claiming victory with a superb break of 92.

The world number 12 faces Barry Hawkins in the second round on Friday.

The Antrim man trailed 2-0 and 3-1 before his third break in excess of 50 helped level the match at 3-3.

After winning two tense frames to lead 5-3, the world number 12 hit a century in the last frame of the morning session to put him just four short of victory and he sealed his success quickly on Tuesday evening.

"I felt good. I scored well when I was in the balls and once I got to 3-3 I never looked back," Allen told BBC Sport.

"Early on I had a few ropey safety shots and he punished me and had me under pressure.

"But I hung on and found a bit of form and at 3-3 he started to look edgy."

In a fearless after attacking display, Allen posted a brilliant 101 to round off the first session and ensure a three-frame lead, and he only failed to register half-century breaks in two of the 10 frames he won.

"When I am scoring is when I am at my most dangerous," he added. "But there are still a lot of things in that performance that I am not happy about.

"I have to work on my safety and long potting because in the balls I don't think I will miss too many.

"To win nine frames in a row against anyone is an achievement, but there is more to come."