Brown hopes fellow Antrim man Allen will 'reconsider' retirement plans after NI Open snooker exit

Former world number one ‘The Pistol’ was beaten 4-2 by fellow Antrim man Brown in his first public event since losing to Wu Yize during the semi-finals of the World Championship in Sheffield in May, blaming his absence on personal issues, which he has kept private.

Looking drawn, the emotional local man said that playing his match at the Waterfront Hall against Brown was an ‘achievement’ after ‘a really difficult’ period in his life while he took a break from competitive action. Allen was warmly welcomed by the home crowd to a tournament he won in 2021 and 2022.

Speaking to the BBC, Allen (40) said: “I think if I hadn't have been playing Jordan, I probably would not have played. I felt like I did not 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.”

Asked if he was considering drawing the curtain on his 21-year professional career, which has included winning 12 ranking tournaments including the 2022 UK Championship, he replied: “Yeah.”

“The last three months have been really, really difficult and I think even just being here today is an achievement,” added Allen.

“For me, today was not about the result or the performance, it was trying to enjoy the experience of playing one of my best mates in one of my favourite arenas, in one of my favourite tournaments. 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. And I need to work hard on myself in the next few weeks and see what is around the corner.”

“I wished Jordan well, I always do.”

Speaking earlier to TNT Sports, Allen said he was ‘in a bad place at the minute’, and ‘really overwhelmed’ adding he does not ‘see a future with snooker in it’.

“I think if I wasn't playing Jordan I wouldn't have come back. I felt like if I was going to play one last time, playing here at the Waterfront, where it all started in 2005, against one of my best mates, I thought that was a better way to sign out. I've been flooded with support but the problems are within. I just don't see a future with snooker in it, if I'm honest. It's sad to say, because it's all I've loved to do since I was 12 but the last few months has been really difficult and it's put snooker into perspective for me. At the minute I'm just trying to survive.”

And ‘The Antrim Ferrari’, who now progresses to the last 32, meeting Michael Holt, had similar warm words for his old friend.

“It is overwhelming for Mark here with his family, friends and all the fans who have paid good money to see him play,” Brown told the BBC.

“It is very difficult. 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 just turn up to pot a few balls - it is not like that at all.”

Brown (39) said he ‘really hoped’ Allen would reconsider retiring.

“The first words I said to him today was 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.”

Speaking to TNT, he added: “First and foremost it's just great to see Mark back playing. He obviously came through a tough time off the table and I'm with him every step of the way, like everybody is. We're all behind him. I miss him and I love him and we all just want to see him healthy and well and playing the game that he loves so much. He's a great player and a great guy.”