World Snooker Championship
Date: 18 April-4 May Venue: Crucible Theatre, Sheffield
Coverage: Live coverage each day on BBC Two, BBC Red Button and BBC Sport website (UK only), updates on BBC Radio 5 Live.

Allen saw off the defending champion to make the quarter-finals

Northern Irishman Mark Allen has played down reports that he has been able to move into snooker's elite despite being affected by colour blindness.

Allen shocked Ronnie O'Sullivan at the World Championship on Saturday and begins his quarter-final against Ryan Day on Tuesday morning.

"It's not really that big a deal," said the 23-year-old.

"Sometimes I have a bit of problem between the reds and brown but if I'm in any doubt, I ask the referee."

Allen added: "If the brown is on its spot it's never a problem but if it's among the reds, sometimes I have to ask the referee, which I'm allowed to do."

The conqueror of world number one O'Sullivan is "looking forward" to his quarter-final clash against the Welshman.

"We've always had fairly open games. We've played four times. He's won twice and I've won twice.

"I'm playing quite well so far but I'll need to step it up a little bit against Ryan because he's had two comfortable wins against Stephen Lee and Nigel Bond."

Allen criticised O'Sullivan after Saturday's match, claiming that the Englishman's negative comments were bad for snooker.

I don't think Ronnie will ever be happy unless he knocks in 147s in every frame Mark Allen

'The Rocket' recently claimed the sport was "dying", but Allen hit back after beating the world champion, saying snooker had never been healthier.

Allen continued his criticism of O'Sullivan on Monday, claiming the current world champion had been wrong to state that his own game was "very poor" in their contest.

"In the first session, neither or us performed that well but after that I thought both of us played all right," added Allen.

"But I don't think Ronnie will ever be happy unless he knocks in 147s in every frame. That's just not possible.

"No matter what Ronnie says, I don't think he played that badly so for me to come through makes it an even bigger achievement than it already is."

606: DEBATE When Ronnie's on form he can be awesome, but when he's not in the right shape of mind he can be easy to beat MAVERICKROB

Allen now believes that he is capable of going all the way to the title.

"If I can beat the number one player is a close match where there's pressure involved and having to take out clearances and pot crucial balls, there no reason why I can't go on and win it.

"At the same time, there are going to be seven other players in the quarter-finals that are ready to stop me."

Allen has been receiving messages of congratulation from his home town of Antrim since his surprise win over O'Sullivan.

"I think everyone in the town sort of stopped and watched the end of the match against Ronnie.

"It's good for the town because it has had a lot of bad press over the years."

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