Sports

Mark Allen Contemplates Retirement After Loss to Jordan Brown at Northern Ireland Open

By Jana McCabe

Mark Allen said he is considering retiring from snooker after a 4‑2 defeat to Jordan Brown in the first round of the Northern Ireland Open. The former world number one, who returned to the Waterfront Hall in Belfast after a break, described the match as an "achievement" following a difficult period in his life. He added that he did not want his last match to be remembered for the semi‑final loss to Wu Yize in the World Championship in Sheffield. Allen told BBC Sport NI that playing Brown was a fitting end if he decided to call it a day. When asked if he was drawing the curtain on his career, he replied, "Yeah." He also said he was in a "bad place at the minute" and does not see a future with snooker. Allen, 40, has won 12 ranking titles, including the 2022 UK Championship, and has been absent from the World Snooker Tour circuit since the semi‑final loss in May. He said the last three months have been very difficult and that simply being at the event was an achievement. Allen added that he will not announce retirement immediately but that something needs to change within six weeks before the UK Championship. He said he must work hard in the coming weeks to see what lies ahead. Brown received a warm response from the home crowd and praised Allen, saying he wished him well. Brown, who won the match, noted that the win was the least satisfying he has ever had and that he is in a precarious place in the rankings after losing his mum recently. He said the public often thinks players are just robots, but it is not that simple. The match was the first time the 39‑year‑old had beaten his close friend. Brown said he has no doubt Allen will return and wished him all the best.