Snooker star sends Mark Allen message on behalf of players after heartbreaking interview

Mark Allen has received a public message of support from Anthony McGill ‘on behalf of the other players’ after revealing he is in a ‘bad place’ and considering quitting snooker.

The 40-year-old played for the first time this season at the Northern Ireland Open on Tuesday, losing 4-2 to close friend Jordan Brown.

Allen had not competed since the World Championship semi-final in May, pulling out of a string of big events due to personal reasons.

After the match at the Waterfront Hall, the former Masters champion gave an emotional interview to TNT Sports’ Rachel Casey, revealing that he is thinking about retiring.

There has been great concern for Allen as he said of the problems he is going through: ‘At the minute I’m just trying to survive.’

Allen told TNT Sports of how he felt during the match against Brown: ‘Really overwhelmed, I’m in a bad place at the minute. Even just to go out there and try was tough.

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‘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.’

Asked if he was really considering ending his career, he said: ‘Yeah.

‘I’ve been flooded with support but the problems are within. I just don’t see a future for snooker, if I’m honest. It’s sad to say because it’s all I’ve loved to do since I was 12.

‘The last few months have been really difficult and it’s sort of put snooker into perspective for me. At the minute I’m just trying to survive.’

Allen received another message of support later in the day as McGill spoke out after beating Jack Lisowski 4-1 in the evening session.

The Scot, who first played the Northern Irishman professionally 13 years ago, said on TNT: ‘Can I just say on behalf of the other players for Mark Allen. Everybody loves Mark Allen.

‘I’ve had a few nights out with him, he’s fantastic company, he’s a great, great guy. Everybody’s thinking about you Mark. Get through it. Every dark has a sunrise.’

Speaking to the BBC, Allen did not rule out playing again, even at the UK Championship which starts next month, but says ‘something needs to change’ for him to return to the table.

‘I’m not going to announce it right now on the back of a defeat, but it’s something I’ve been contemplating for a while and something needs to change in the next six weeks before the UK Championship for me to show up,’ he said. ‘Something I need to try to work hard on in myself in the next few weeks and see what’s round the corner.’

The world number 12 added: ‘The last three months have been really, really difficult. I think even just being here today is an achievement.’

Long-time friend and practice partner Brown said Tuesday’s meeting was ‘easily the hardest match I’ve ever had to deal with’ as he saw his mate struggling.

Brown told ITV: ‘It was a very, very tough match and there’s more important things going on in the world nowadays. It was heart-breaking to see Mark going through that. But I had a job to do today and that was to win, so I managed to do that.

‘It’s just great to see Mark back. As a friend of his, I miss him, I love him. You could tell he’s suffering. Obviously he’s talked about potentially retiring, I hope it doesn’t happen, he’s just a great guy, a great player and to me there’s plenty of world titles in him.

‘We hope he gets himself sorted out and gets back to playing the game he loves.’