Allen aiming to battle on at Barbican
TROUBLED Mark Allen is set to play in snooker’s first major of the season at the UK Championship.
The world No.11 from Northern Ireland withdrew from next week’s prestigious Champion of Champions, where he was due to defend his title, for ‘personal reasons’.
Allen has been beset by off-table problems over the past year but somehow shrugged all that off to win his home Northern Ireland Open last month.
The 35-year-old has suffered mental health issues, declared himself bankrupt and become embroiled in legal proceedings for divorce and child support.
But unless there is another late development, Allen remains in the draw for the 128-player field for the tournament at York’s Barbican Centre that starts on November 23.
Yesterday he was paired with Michael Judge, the 46-year-old Dubliner who regained his tour spot in the summer for the first time in 10 years.
In other first-round ties of note, record seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry will continue his comeback against Thai speedster Thepchaiya Un-Nooh. Defending champion Neil Robertson, who won a thriller 12 months ago to edge out Judd Trump 10-9 in the deciding frame, will play amateur and some-time actor John Astley.
World No.1 Mark Selby will face Scotland’s Ross Muir, while record seven-time UK winner Ronnie O’Sullivan takes on two-time ranking event winner Michael White – now off the main tour. World No.2 Trump has been paired with 46-year-old amateur and reigning world seniors champion David Lilley.
Record 12-time women’s world champion Reanne Evans takes on former Crucible finalist Barry Hawkins, while women’s No.2 Ng On Yee plays Masters champion Yan Bingtao.