Fans spot moment World Snooker Championship referee thinks semi-final is over – before Mark Allen ‘blew it’

Mark Allen suffered extraordinary heartbreak in the World Snooker Championship semi-final – losing 17-16 to Wu Yize.

Allen missed a match-winning black off its spot in the penultimate frame for a place in the final.

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The dramatic moment saw the black remarkably cannon off the jaws of the pockets.

Even referee Marcel Eckardt appeared to start taking off his gloves in preparation of the match ending.

Instead, 22-year-old Wu took it to a final frame and a break of 71 secured a place in the showpiece event over the weekend.

It was a match that made headlines on Friday for the longest frame in Crucible history.

Allen: ‘I blew it’

“I had my chances and completely blew it to be honest. I always fancy myself under pressure, but I didn’t cope with it today,” Allen told BBC Sport.

“When you miss a black like that you don’t deserve to win. I had more than enough chances to win it. I wish Wu good luck.

“I think he’s going to be world champion. Even though I’m devastated to lose that match, I think the right person is in the final.”

Even the pundits in the studio had their heads in their hands.

Six-time champion Steve Davis said: “You can forgive anyone anything at this stage.

“I feel for Mark Allen and I know what he is going through. It is a shock. He will be in total shock.”

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Wu vs Murphy

China’s new superstar Wu will face the 2005 World Snooker Champion Shaun Murphy for a shot at glory.

“I feel I am still not recovering from the nerves. I feel sorry for Mark,” said Wu after his triumph.

“I felt like I was losing the match, especially the second black in that frame. But I was able to take the opportunity.

“In the last session I made some mistakes in safety play and then towards the end I was lucky. I want to give my best efforts and everything I have got to try to win the World Championship.”

Murphy, meanwhile, enjoyed a 17-15 victory over John Higgins to make his fifth final at the Crucible.

“I am over the moon. I am exhausted. I was in a match with John, four sessions, a world semi-final, it does not get much more difficult than that,” Murphy said.

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“I knew I needed a good start and two centuries off the bat was good. Of course it counted for nothing because two frames later I was back where I started.

“I knew I had to go to the well again. I knew I had done it once and could do it again. I didn’t expect to win all four after the resumption but I got my chances and scored well.”