Jordan Brown in tears over Mark Allen message but Northern Ireland run continues

Jordan Brown was left in tears after Mark Allen’s emotional statement on his struggles with mental health, but now wants to win the Northern Ireland Open for his friend.

Brown beat Allen in the first round in Belfast on Tuesday, but it was the aftermath of the game that will live long in the memory.

Allen was playing for the first time since May and revealed that he may have now played his last match, with retirement from snooker a real possibility due to personal issues.

The 40-year-old then released a statement on Wednesday explaining that he had been in a mental health clinic for 10 weeks and his focus is on getting better, with snooker far from a priority at the moment.

He did sound far more positive than in his interviews after the match, though, stating: ‘I have so much to live for and this is only the beginning of my new journey.’

Tuesday was an emotional day for everyone involved, with Brown describing it as the hardest match he’s ever had to deal with, and Allen’s statement brought tears again, although thankfully optimism returned.

Brown followed up his win over Allen by beating Michael Holt 4-3 on Wednesday and told Radio Snooker with Nick Metcalfe of the last two days: ‘Very difficult, I didn’t get much sleep last night. I woke up at 5am and my mind was on overdrive.

‘I was drained today, I was tired, because it was such an emotional day. We all feel for Mark, we’re a snooker family and we want to see him come back to his normal self.

‘Such a top, top lad. I miss him, I love him and we all want to see him back playing the game that he loves.’

On Wednesday’s statement, Brown said: ‘I was in tears whenever I read it, I think he put it beautifully. Obviously there’s loads of people concerned out there, but it’s better for him to come out and say what he’s been going through.

‘It’s so important, mental health is such a big thing these days. It’s so important to reach out. We’re grown men, but if Mark’s suffering, anybody can suffer.

‘It’s a very hard thing that he’s going through but I’ve no doubt that he’ll come out the other side because everybody loves him and he’s going to have the support. None more so than me, his friends and his family. He’ll be back I’m sure.’

Northern Irishman Brown is now into the last 16 in Belfast where he takes on Scott Donaldson on Thursday and he wants to lift the Alex Higgins Trophy on Sunday for the local crowd and his friend.

‘I want to do it for them, I want to do it for Mark,’ he told TNT Sports.

‘I believe I can do it. No reason why I can’t. I’m certainly playing well enough.’