Allen mulls retirement after Northern Ireland Open defeat
Mark Allen admitted that stepping away from professional snooker has been on his mind for some time after a 4‑2 first‑round loss to Jordan Brown at the Northern Ireland Open. The 40‑year‑old, a former world number one, described the defeat as a catalyst for his thoughts on ending his career.
The loss to fellow Antrim native Brown was Allen’s first competitive appearance since the heartbreaking semi‑final against Wu Yize at the World Championship in Sheffield in May, where a missed black in the penultimate frame cost him a place in his first final. “Showing up to play Jordan was an achievement after a really difficult period in my life,” Allen told BBC Sport NI from the Waterfront Hall in Belfast. “If I hadn’t been playing Jordan, I probably would not have played. I didn’t want my last match to be remembered for that semi‑final in Sheffield. I thought it would be a bit of nostalgia to go out playing Jordan in the Waterfront where it all started in 2005, and that would be a more fitting end if I do call it a day.” When asked if he was considering hanging up his cue, he answered simply, “Yeah.”
Earlier in the week, Allen told TNT Sports that he was “in a bad place at the minute” and that he “does not see a future with snooker in it.” He added that the past three months had been “really, really difficult” and that merely being present at the venue felt like an accomplishment. “Today was not about the result or the performance, it was about trying to enjoy the experience of playing one of my best mates in one of my favourite arenas, in one of my favourite tournaments,” he said. “I am not going to announce retirement right now after a defeat, but it is something I have been contemplating for a while and something needs to change within the next six weeks before the UK Championship for me to show up. I need to work hard on myself in the next few weeks and see what is around the corner.”
Allen’s career has been decorated with 12 ranking titles, including the 2022 UK Championship, and he has been a professional since 2005. This year has been particularly challenging after the missed black against Wu Yize, which led to a loss in the final frame and a subsequent withdrawal from the World Snooker Tour circuit.
Brown, now world number 65, expressed his hope that Allen would stay in the sport. He described the victory as “the least satisfying” win of his career, noting the pressure from fans and the personal battles both players face. “It is overwhelming for Mark here with his family, friends and all the fans who have paid good money to see him play,” Brown said. “I have my own battles to go through. I am in a precarious place in the rankings, and I lost my mum recently. It just puts everything into perspective. The general public seem to think we are just robots who turn up to pot a few balls – it is not like that at all.”
Brown added that he wishes Allen well and believes the Northern Irish star will return. “I really hope so,” he said when asked if Allen might reconsider retiring. “The first words I said to him today were that it was great to see him back and we had a big cuddle. It is tough to see him going through that. I have no doubt he will come back. Snooker is his love, he is absolutely brilliant and he is a top bloke. I wish him all the best.”