Mark Allen produced a brilliant performance in Daqing on Sunday to defeat Neil Robertson 10-5 and clinch the International Championship for the first time.

Allen, who had dispatched Matthew Stevens 9-6 in the semi-finals, went into the final trailing Robertson 14-8 in the head-to-head record, although the world number 12 had won the previous two encounters.

The Northern Irishman lost in last year’s final – suffering a 10-7 defeat to Mark Selby – but he made amends for missing out on the trophy 12 months ago with a strong showing on Sunday.

Having shared the first two frames, Allen rattled off the next six frames which included three century breaks, opening up a commanding 7-1 lead over his Australian opponent.

Robertson showed his determination and started to mount a comeback after winning frames nine, 10 and 11, reducing the deficit to 7-4 and putting himself within striking distance of his Irish foe.

Allen won two of the next three frames to move to the brink of glory and despite a wobble midway through frame 15, the Belfast-born star was able to claim the honours 10-5.

The 32-year-old’s success is his first of the season and he now heads into the Champion of Champions, which gets underway in Coventry on Monday, full of confidence.

Allen takes on Barry Hawkins in his first-round match on Thursday at the Ricoh Arena and the International Championship winner is the narrow 1.85 favourite to win whilst his opponent is priced at 1.91.

The winner of that encounter will take on either Selby, who is 6.50 to win the English event, or Robertson in the quarter-finals.