Mark Allen felt he was never really in his International Championship semi-final showdown against Shaun Murphy, despite falling just short with a second session comeback.

The defending champion saw his bid to retain his crown ended on Saturday at the Baihu Media Broadcasting Centre as Murphy booked his place in the final with a 9-6 victory.

Murphy had lead 6-0 in the best-of-17 contest at one point before Allen won the final two frames of the final session to give himself a glimmer of hope.

Murphy edged a tense ninth frame after the break but Allen ramped up the pressure by taking the next two.

The 2005 world champion gave himself some breathing room by going 8-4 ahead but a 94 from Allen in the next frame kept the Northern Irishman in the contest.

The 14th frame came down to the pink, Murphy failing to convert a break of 52 as Allen moved to within two frames of the 37-year-old.

However, Murphy eventually got over the line via a break of 66 to set up a final meeting with Judd Trump.

Despite a brave fightback, Allen was left disappointed by his efforts at a tournament at which he has had plenty of joy recently, reaching the final in 2014 and 2017 before winning the title last year.

It was Allen’s third semi-final appearance in his last four ranking tournaments and he says he has come to expect better from himself in the latter stages.

“I’m really disappointed with how I played. I just didn’t turn up really,” said Allen.

“I was hanging on and it got to the point where I dragged Shaun down a bit. He was the much better player all day. In particular the first three frames, where he potted three long reds and made three breaks. That turned out to be the difference at 9-6.”

Allen is 17.00 to win the 2019 UK Championship with Trump the 3.80 favourite.