On table two, only eight of a scheduled nine frames could take place, with Zhang, 22nd in the world, two frames ahead as he searches for a first win at the Crucible after losing in the opening round on his five previous appearances.
Allen, a Crucible semi-finalist in 2009 and 2023, made a 147 break at this venue last year during his loss to Chris Wakelin in the last 16.
But Allen failed to register a single half-century break against Zhang, who made two centuries – 129 in frame two and 109 in frame five – as well as three breaks of at least 58.
Three-time champion Mark Williams begins his campaign in Saturday’s afternoon session when he plays Antoni Kowalski, the first Polish player to qualify for the Crucible.
Xiao Guodong takes on Zhou Yuelong in an all-Chinese match, and in the evening session former runners-up Barry Hawkins and Matthew Stevens go head-to-head.
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