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Mark Allen vs. Cao Yupeng cheating row

German Masters snooker

Following Mark Allen’s defeat against Cao Yupeng during the World Snooker Championship, not only did the world number 11 accuse his opponent of cheating, but also claimed that a number of Chinese players have been bending the rules. Allen said: “It seems to be a bit of a trait for the Chinese players because there have been a few instances in the past of fouls and blatant cheating going on. It needs to be corrected.”

However, snooker legend Steven Davis was quick to challenge Allen’s claims, stating that: “It was obviously Mark coming straight off the back of his disappointment of losing.” This is not the first time that Allen has caused offence this season as the player recently received a fine for branding the Chinese island of Hainan, where the World Open was staged, as “horrendous” and its people as “ignorant”.

The World Snooker Championship match

During the early stages of the World Snooker Championship game, it appeared as though Allen was struggling to get ahead of Cao, who is currently ranked 81 in the world. The 21-year-old Chinese player was winning with a score of 5-4 following breaks of 70, 69 and 51. Then a pair of centuries – 108 and 113 – saw the player head even further into the lead with a score of 9-5.

Following Cao’s succession of breaks, Allen made a great effort to close the gap with a 101. While it appeared as though the player was managing to fight back to victory, as he attempted to pot the black, he did not spot the white ball rolling into a pocket which caused him to lose 10-6.

Just moments after losing to Cao, Allen alleged that his opponent had cheated during the match. The World Snooker Championship entrant claimed that the referee had not picked up on Cao striking the white ball twice during his attempt to pot a red. He said: “The referee missed a blatant push. It was obvious to me and anyone watching at home would have been able to see it, no problem.”

In response to Allen’s allegations, Cao Yupeng said through an interpreter: “I didn’t realise I had fouled. If I did foul, then I say sorry. If I didn’t and Mark has said that (I should) apologise, then I would feel very upset and angry.”

Cao Yupeng predictions

Following his victory against the top ranking Mark Allen, Cao Yupeng has caught the attention of many snooker fans. The World Snooker Championship matches that Cao has performed in so far suggest that his talent outshines his low ranking position. During the qualifying match, Cao was able to knock Tom Ford from the competition with a score of 10-9. His ability to defeat Mark Allen emphasises that the 21 year old has the capacity to match leading snooker players.

During round two of the World Snooker Championship, Cao will be placed against either fellow Chinese rising star Ding Junhui or Ryan Day, depending on the outcome of their match. While Cao would stand a great chance against Day, a competition against Ding could prove a challenge as the world number 7 has enjoyed a triumphant few months with his 2012 Welsh Open victory and China Open semi final position.

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