Stunned Mark Allen admitted he didn’t know what hit him after being blown away at the Scottish Open.
The shell-shocked UK champion was hammered 4-1 by talented Thai potter Thepchaiya Un-Nooh.
World No 5 Allen saw his hopes of becoming just the fifth player in history to win three consecutive ranking events evaporate at Edinburgh's Meadowbank Centre.
Read more: Mark Allen opens up on 'embarrassing' fast food binges that led to weight gain
The punch-drunk Pistol reflected: “I don’t know what hit me there if I’m honest.
“Hats off to him because he absolutely steamrolled me there. There was nothing I could do really.
“I don’t feel like I’ve done much wrong and I’ve been absolutely battered.
“It’s probably happened before when I’ve been hammered by a Ronnie or something.
“I was outplayed and he can do that to you. We all know about his heavy, quick scoring but his safety in the first couple of frames was really good, he just nailed me.
“He’s a player I look at him and sometimes you see he’s lost and you wonder how because he’s so talented.
“The problem for him is producing that on a consistent basis because if he plays like that all week then he’ll take some stopping.”
The left-hander blasted his way into a commanding 3-0 lead with 85, 61 and 58 breaks.
Allen briefly hit back by winning the fourth frame before Thepchaiya reached the last 16 with an 87 visit.
For the Antrim potter it was just his third defeat in ranking events in 24 matches
But Allen said: “You go on runs where you win matches when you’ve not been at your best and you have to battle through.
“It will be nice to get straight back onto the practice table ahead of the English Open and put some long hours in.
“I’m a player who needs long hours. I’m not complaining because I’ve been winning and it’s a nice problem."
READ NEXT:
- Mark Allen happy he's getting 'life in order' despite British Open final agony
Rory McIlroy's bumper payday as he wins fourth DP World Tour title in Dubai
- The shrewd investments paying rich dividends for Rory McIlroy
- Next Northern Ireland manager - 7 potential candidates
Sign up to our free sports newsletter to get the latest headlines to your inbox.
