Mark Allen has confessed that he is “in a bad place at the minute” and is considering retiring from snooker following a defeat to Jordan Brown in the Northern Ireland Open.
In a heartbreaking interview with TNT Sports, a visibly emotional Mark Allen broke down and was comforted by interviewer Rachel Casey.
The 40-year-old confessed that he would not have played in Tuesday’s match had he not been drawn against his fellow Antrim man and close friend Brown, stating that if he was going to play “one last time”, it made sense to do so in Belfast, adding that he couldn’t think of “a better way to sign out”.
Allen said: “I’ve been flooded with support, but the problems are within. I just don’t see a future.
“It’s sad to say, as this is all I’ve loved to do since I was 12, but at the minute, I’m just trying to survive.”
It was Allen’s first competitive match since his traumatic World Championship semi-final defeat to China’s Wu Yize, which saw the Ulsterman miss an easy black to secure a place in the decider.
Jordan Brown © VCG via Getty Images
Allen received a warm reception from the Waterfront crowd, who were delighted to see their hero back at the table.
Brown raced into a two-frame lead in the Antrim derby before Allen won a drawn-out third frame.
Brown won the fourth and sixth frames to secure a relatively comfortable victory, setting up a last-32 clash with Michael Holt.
Brown said: “That was easily the hardest match I’ve ever had to deal with.
“There’s more to life than snooker. We’re all behind him. It’s hard seeing him like that.
“I’ve missed Mark. I love him. He’s just a great guy through and through.”