Published Saturday, 10 December 2011
The Northern Ireland potter caused a storm on Monday when he started the week with a public tirade against World Snooker chairman Barry Hearn in a press conference, but he could now end it by taking a cheque, potentially from Hearn if he attends Friday's showpiece against Judd Trump in York, for £100,000.
A lot of things have to happen between now and then, but even the most loyal Trump fans would concede there would be a certain irony if Allen, the 25-year-old who accused Hearn of looking to "make money for himself", leaves Yorkshire with a six-figure sum in his pocket.
Some of any potential earnings may have to be paid back in fines too, with Allen having been referred to the game's disciplinary panel for a four-letter outburst during his candid address, which also contained his call for Hearn to step down.
Before any of that becomes a reality, though, he must find a way to get past Trump, although his performance in beating Walden 9-7 suggested he could well topple the man who has been dubbed as the future of the sport.
"Judd is riding the crest of a wave and it will be a tough match," Allen told BBC Sport. "I've been waiting for a final for a long time, to have the handshake in front of the trophy."
Allen's initial ire against Hearn had stemmed from his frustration that first and second-round matches at the tournament had been reduced to 11 frames.
He was fortunate that Saturday's semi-final was a best-of-17 affair, having trailed Walden 5-3 at the mid-session interval.
"I think that proves my point that the better players go through over the longer distance," Allen added.
Walden, the 2008 Shanghai Masters champion, signed off for the afternoon with a century, his second of the match, to cap a fine response to falling 3-1 behind.
But, having looked decidedly out of sorts in the first session, Allen returned seemingly a new man and, by the mid-session interval, was within touching distance of the final, winning all four frames.
Two solid contributions got him back to 5-4 and Allen then rattled in a 79 to move two ahead.
It was clear the momentum was with the former World Amateur champion, something that was demonstrated in a gripping 11th frame.
Walden left a return to baulk short and gave Allen a potable red to the middle which he sunk, only to break down on 35.
A smart 60 gave Walden a chance of stealing the frame but, after missing frame-ball brown, Allen slipped in to clear the colours, before a 64 sent him into the interval with a clean sweep of the first four frames of the night.
Walden got his tally for the evening running in the next frame when a 52 helped him pull back to 7-6, only for Allen to respond and move to within touching distance of the final.
But Walden won the next to threaten a one-frame shoot-out, before Allen kept his composure to wrap things up with a closing 70.