Sportsupdated 1h ago2 min read
Mark Allen Returns To Snooker At Northern Ireland Open After 10-Week Mental Health Clinic Stay
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Allen spent 10 weeks in a mental health clinic before returning at Northern Ireland Open. He lost 4-2 to Jordan Brown in his first match back.
5 outlets told this the same way.
Clinic Stay Before Return
Mark Allen returned to snooker at the Northern Ireland Open in Belfast after spending 10 weeks in a mental health clinic, and he said he was working to "turn things around". Allen told fans he was in a "bad place at the minute" and that he was considering retirement after his 4-2 first-round defeat by close friend Jordan Brown on Tuesday. Allen said he discharged himself so he could prepare for Tuesday's match against Brown, and he added that he plans to continue his treatment.
Allen also said he was "not OK, but I'm OK in that itself" and described his recovery as a "work in progress" as he prepared to show the same fighting qualities off the table. Allen said his 21 years on tour included 12 ranking titles, and he referenced the 2022 UK Championship and a stint at the top of the world rankings in 2024.
Emotional Words, Match Context
Allen said he was "just trying to survive" after his match against Brown, and he described being "really overwhelmed" in interviews afterwards. Allen said he did not "see a future with snooker in it" following his first match since his World Championship semi-final loss to Wu Yize at the Crucible in May, when he missed a black off its spot in a dramatic final frame. Jordan Brown described the encounter as the hardest match he had ever dealt with, and Brown said he had "missed him" and "love him" as he praised Allen as "a great guy through and through".
Allen said he was "not ok" but had improved on recent months and could now "see the light" as he continued his recovery. Allen added that he was "doing my best to turn things round" and that he would continue his treatments going forward and then see what was ahead.
Treatment, Support, and Next
Allen said he owed his decision to discharge himself to his family, in particular his daughter, and he said he also owed it to the fans who have supported him throughout his 21 years on tour. Allen said he was "not going anywhere just yet" and wrote that he had "so much to live for" as he described his return as "only the beginning of my new journey". Allen thanked Simon Brownell and Neil Tomkins for remaining in touch regularly, and he said Simon paid him a visit in the clinic itself.
Allen said he was "not OK" and that he had been much worse in the last few months than you saw yesterday, while also saying his daughter kept him going through "some really dark days". The Northern Ireland Open at the Waterfront Hall continued without Allen as Ronnie O'Sullivan, Judd Trump and Mark Selby had already departed the tournament, along with Allen.