It was a welcome victory for Antrim's 26-year-old Allen as he hadn't won a match in one of the 'big three' BBC events since reaching the final of the UK Championship 13 months ago. He now meets defending champion Robertson on Thursday in what looks set to be a high-quality encounter.
Allen, who reached the Masters semi-finals two years ago, made a blistering start tonight at Ally Pally with a 136 total clearance in the opening frame. Davis, appearing in the event for the first time since 2003, hit back to win two of the next three frames with a top run of 62 to make it 2-2 at the interval.
Haikou World Open champion Allen then took control as breaks of 79 and 42 put him 4-2 ahead. He took a scrappy seventh frame on the colours before sealing victory in the next with an 80.
