Mark Allen has hit out at the decision to call up two snooker players as late replacements at the World Grand Prix.
Hossein Vafaei and Ben Woollaston were invited to compete at this week’s event in Hong Kong in place of Ronnie O’Sullivan and Stephen Maguire who both withdrew for medical reasons.
O’Sullivan has missed various tournaments in 2025 on medical grounds, citing fatigue as an ongoing issue.
World No.7 Allen, who was beaten 4-2 by Jimmy Robertson on Wednesday says he disagrees with the decision to hand places to players who did not qualify for the event by their ranking.
Northern Irishman Allen said on X: “Nothing against Ben or Hossein but I really don’t agree with guys being replaced by those who have technically failed to qualify.
“Imagine number 17 doesn’t qualify for Sheffield. A top-16 player WDs (withdraws), does 17 get back in as next in line? Both Ronnie and Mags have earned their 10k.
“All those not in the top-32 on the one-year list have had their chance to qualify and haven’t done so.
“Semis of the world, someone falls ill…replace with the highest ranked (who has) already lost or a bye?”
Woollaston was sent crashing at the first time of asking in Hong Kong after losing 4-3 to reigning Masters champion Shaun Murphy.
The 37-year-old has just one professional title to his name which he won 14 years ago at the minor-ranking third Players Tour Championship event.
Meanwhile, Vafaei takes on China’s World No.13 Si Jiahui on Wednesday for a spot in the round of 16.
The Iranian is best known for dumping O’Sullivan out of the World Open last year with a famous 5-4 victory.
Meanwhile, Mark Selby got the better of Jackson Page on Wednesday, edging past the Welshman 4-3 to book his place in the next round.
The same can be said of China’s Xiao Guodong who got the better of Jak Jones.
Neil Robertson swept aside Yuan Sijun 4-0 and Barry Hawkins beat Tom Ford 4-3 in an all-English affair.
The event was thrown into chaos on Tuesday night when a locally-imposed curfew wreaked havoc with Kyren Wilson’s match with Matthew Selt.
The match was stopped for 15 minutes to allow fans to leave the arena so that they could arrive home before the restrictions kicked in.
The newly-built Kai Tak Arena is situated 30 minutes from the nearest metro station meaning fans were forced to leave early.
The match did eventually resume in an empty arena with Wilson getting the better of his fellow countryman, winning 4-3.
