N. Ireland Mark Allen brands Haikou Open conditions ‘a disgrace’

But the 26-year-old from Northern Ireland then blasted the humidity in the arena, saying it made snooker "almost unplayable".

This came days after Allen laid into the venue, calling the Chinese hosts "ignorant".

Allen, who still made two centuries and now faces world No 1 Mark Selby for a place in tomorrow’s final, tweeted: "Glad to get through but can’t take anything out of that victory.

"Mark King was not beat by me but by conditions! Disgrace for quarter-final."

Later in his Press conference, Allen — bidding to reach only a second ranking final — added: "Conditions were very, very poor for both of us but I adapted better.

"It was nearly unplayable in there."

Selby, wearing a glove to stop his cue sticking, set up his last-four clash against Allen with a 5-0 win over Shaun Murphy.

World No 38 Rob Milkins — knows as the Milkman — delivered in style to beat world champion John Higgins 5-3 in the last eight.

He will play Stephen Lee — who beat Graeme Dott 5-1 — in the semis.