Continuing on from his impressive form at the UK Championship, where he reached the semi-final, the Norther Ireland potter put in a stellar display, taking the chances Ronnie gave him.
Allen is a player who every time you watch him play, he looks closer and closer to delivering his first major title.
And with some of the competition's biggest names already out, this could be his time.
While Allen is sure to take plenty of confidence from this win, it was an all too familiar tale for O'Sullivan.
Although defeat wasn't quite on the scale of his capitulation against Stuart Bingham in Telford, his attitude was equally as uninterested. Again there was something not quite right about his mindset. Anyone can miss balls. Ronnie did today, and made some poor shots selections too. The kind Allen was in the mood to punish. But O'Sullivan seemed to be preoccupied.
With other interests in his life, I suggested earlier it may be time for Ronnie to take a break from snooker. His talent, although still considerable, is being stifled by a lack of motivation.
Snooker is evolving around him, when perhaps in the past he's led the sport. While the crowds will flood in to watch him no matter what, personally, it may be time for Ronnie to step away and take a view on whether he still needs snooker.
For Allen, it's full-steam ahead.
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