Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
I WOULDN’T RON FROM REBEL TOUR
Allen: I would consider O’sullivan’s breakaway if the price is right
MARK ALLEN would be tempted to join Ronnie O’sullivan’s proposed rebel tour – but only if the price is right.
Defending UK champion O’sullivan, inset, wants to create a Champions League series of events with the creme de la creme competing for big prize money.
And Northern Ireland’s top potter believes the sport’s best players could follow suit if there was enough cash on the table.
“It would need to be a massive amount of money for me to consider it,” said Allen.
“I’m a traditionalist in a certain sense because I love these big tournaments and I want them on my CV at the end of my career.
“But it will be hard to refuse if Ronnie and whatever financial backer he has dangles a huge carrot of £1million or £2million.
“It would be selfish of me to turn that down because that would be my family’s future secured.
“I’m throwing that figure out completely on a whim, but it’s something you’d have to consider if there was a possibility of it happening.”
The Rocket’s rebel tour has received a mixed response from fellow professionals.
Former world champion Graeme Dott has slammed the idea as a “non-starter” and a potential “circus”, whilst former UK champion Judd Trump believes the Rocket’s big break will never take off.
“From a selfish point of view obviously you’d like to see Ronnie leave because it would make it easier for everyone else,” added last season’s Masters champion
Allen.
“He’s maybe not world No1 but he’s still the best player in the world no matter what the rankings say.
“If the best player in the world isn’t in the events then they should be easier to win. “But there’s something special about winning events when O’sullivan’s in them, especially if you can beat him along the way.” Meanwhile, Allen fired his way into the last 16 of the UK Championships with an impressive 6-2 victory over Iran’s Hossein Vafaei last night.
Allen set up a repeat of the International Championship final against Aussie ace Neil Robertson after sinking 83, 87, 56, 87 and 60 breaks as he aims for a first quarter-final at the event since 2013.
Defending champion O’sullivan, who turns 43 today, is hoping to celebrate his birthday bash in style at the UK Championships when he clashes with Jack Lisowski this afternoon.
Lisowski, world No17, said: “I wouldn’t like to ruin his birthday but I’d rather win than him have a good birthday.”