Home hero out to make his Mark in the Belfast final
Home favourite Mark Allen admitted his offtable troubles have made him more focused than ever before as he dazzled to book a place in this year’s Northern Ireland Open final.
The Antrim potter impressed with a fine 6-3 victory over Englishman Ricky Walden in their semifinal showdown at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast.
And having struggled with depression, divorce proceedings, bankruptcy and maintenance disputes in the past 18 months, it’s testament to the Northern Irishman that he is now just one win away from the £70,000 first prize.
“In a really weird way everything I’ve gone through in the last 18 months has helped me this week,” admitted Allen.
“Normally I’m a bundle of nerves when I come to this event and I don’t really enjoy the tournament.
“But some of the stuff I’ve had to deal with, which I’m not going to go into, has been much tougher than any snooker match.
“I’ve tried to take that as a positive heading into this tournament.”
Allen’s problems got so bad that he amazingly threatened to quit snooker two months ago. But the player nicknamed “The Pistol” has thrived under the added pressure of a nation weighing heavily on his shoulders.
Walden impressed with breaks of 73, 80 and 59, but former Masters champion Allen showed his proven class with runs of 61, 133 and 73 to move within one win of lifting the famous Alex Higgins Trophy.
“I’m trying to keep myself grounded and in the moment,” stressed Allen.
“I don’t want to build it up but to win in front of my home fans would be very special.
“I have won a lot events in China, which are financially better. But it is not always about the money.
“If I look back at the end of my career and I’ve never won this event, well then I’ll be disappointed not to have done it for the Northern Irish fans.
“I don’t want to build it up too much in case I fall flat on my face. But winning the title would mean everything to me.”
Allen made a magical maximum 147 break at the start of the week.
And Judd Trump, who has won the event for the last three years, predicted Allen’s name “might be on the trophy” after he starred to dump out the triple defending champion in the quarter-finals.
But Allen refused to get carried away with his win, knowing a best of 17 frame showdown with John Higgins, the four-time world champion, or Chinese prodigy Yan Bingtao awaits today.
“I’m buzzing, but I’m also trying to stay as clam as possible because the job’s not done,” said Allen.
“I can take a lot of positives about the way I played.
“I tried to be more aggressive and came out of my shell in the second half of the match, so it’s great to know that I’ve got that in my armoury.”