Scott Donaldson Triumphs Over Mark Allen to Reach UK Championship Last 16

Posted : 02 December 2025

Scott Donaldson produced an emotional and commanding performance to defeat world number seven Mark Allen 6-1, securing his place in the last 16 of the Victorian Plumbing UK Championship.

The 31-year-old Scot entered the arena in tears, walking out to David Gray’s Babylon, a song his late father Hector loved. Donaldson’s father passed away in October, and the emotional moment underscored the significance of his run in York.

Donaldson, ranked 52nd in the world, has enjoyed a remarkable tournament so far. He staged a dramatic comeback in the final qualifying round, overturning a 5-0 deficit against 2015 World Champion Stuart Bingham to win 6-5 and earn his place at the main event.

Despite the lopsided score against Allen, the match was fiercely contested in individual frames. After taking the first two frames, the third stretched to 59 minutes before Donaldson eventually led 3-0. Allen responded with a 57 break to claim the fourth, trailing 3-1 at the mid-session.

The match resumed with Donaldson winning two long frames, each lasting over 45 minutes, before clinching the seventh on the black. He celebrated emphatically after potting the final ball and will next face Chinese star Ding Junhui.

“It is a game at the end of the day. It isn’t life or death. After what I’ve been through I can tell you what is important,” Donaldson said. “When the pressure comes on, I tell myself, this is a game of snooker, get on with it. I was fine until I got to the top of the stairs—the last time I was here was with my dad. After the first frame, I was all right. I’m looking forward to playing Ding.”

Elsewhere, Zhang Anda produced a thrilling comeback to edge past Gary Wilson 6-5, setting up a clash with World Champion Zhao Xintong. After qualifying for the main draw and defeating Thepchaiya Un-Nooh, Zhang fell behind 5-3 but responded with a crucial ninth-frame win and a composed 77 in the decider to seal victory.

“Throughout the match, I stayed mentally steady and didn’t worry too much about the result,” Zhang said. “Even when I was 5-3 down, I waited for my chance and took it. I don’t have high expectations for the next round, but I hope we can put on a good show and avoid a one-sided match.”

Scott Donaldson Triumphs Over Mark Allen to Reach UK Championship Last 16

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