Allen, Dott reach QFs

Mark Allen made sure of his place in the World Championship quarter-finals after eliminating England's Mark Davis, winning eight of the 10 frames they contested and finishing with back-to-back centuries, to seal a 13-5 victory.

Northern Irishman Allen is bidding to become his country's first world champion since Dennis Taylor beat Steve Davis in the 1985 final.

Allen had a chat with Taylor before the session started and fired in his breaks of 131 and 101.

"Obviously it's good to have a Northern Irishman who's won the world title and you can always learn off people like that," Allen, 24, said.

"I've started to close out matches pretty well now and to finish with two centuries was an added bonus."

Graeme Dott will be Allen's next opponent.

He inked his name in the quarter-final draw by completing a 13-6 win against his fellow Scot Stephen Maguire.

The 2006 champion had led 11-1 at one stage, and Maguire was too far back to seriously worry him as he began to pick off frames.

Assessing his chance of landing the title, Dott said: "I thought I could win it, before I came, and that's what I'm aiming to do."

By winning the 2006 tournament, Dott believes he goes into matches with an edge over most opponents.

He said: "I think it's a massive advantage. If I get hit by a bus tomorrow and can't play snooker I'll still be happy that I've won it."