Crushed BBC stars react as Mark Allen suffers World Snooker Championship heartbreak

BBC pundits were left utterly crestfallen after Mark Allen squandered the opportunity to win his World Snooker Championship semi-final against Wu Yize. The Northern Irishman lost 17-16 in a dramatic final-frame decider at the Crucible on Saturday evening. The 40-year-old had a gilt-edged chance to reach the final when he took control of an error-riddled 32nd frame, needing just the black off its spot to seal a 17-15 victory. However, the pressure proved too much, and he rattled the pocket, handing Wu an unexpected lifeline to draw level at 16-16. BBC Two then cut to their studio panel of Steve Davis, Kyren Wilson and Seema Jaswal, with all three pictured looking crushed for Allen with their heads in their hands . Wu went on to clinch the deciding frame to book his place in the final against Shaun Murphy. The 22-year-old will be chasing a maiden title at the Crucible and could secure back-to-back wins for China following Zhao Xintong's triumph last year. JOIN US ON FACEBOOK! All the best sports news and much more on our dedicated Facebook page Yet this year's final could so easily have featured Allen , who was left to rue a massive missed opportunity this weekend. Reflecting on the semi-final defeat, he said: "It's a strange one. I just threw a quick one in. "I was nervous, don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to hide that, but I was no more nervous than any other time in the match. I just didn't deliver the cue properly. "I'm absolutely devastated, but I got within one ball of being in the World Final and I'm still nowhere near my best, so I think I'll definitely come back and win this one day, although that's definitely a sore one right now." Allen also admitted he would have been less accepting of the defeat in the past, adding: "Absolutely not. "I'd be receiving a massive fine in the post no doubt. But it is what it is. "You say I'm speaking well, but it's just a game of snooker. It just wasn't meant to be. "There's more important things going on in life. I get to go home and see my daughter, so all good."