Mark Allen has revealed he left a mental health clinic after 10 weeks to compete in the Northern Ireland Open. The former world No. 1 made the disclosure after losing 4-2 to Jordan Brown in Belfast on Tuesday, October 20. In a statement on X, the 40-year-old said his earlier comments about his struggles were genuine. He added that he was doing his best to turn things around.
Allen said he had spent the previous 10 weeks receiving care at a mental health clinic before discharging himself to play in Belfast. During an emotional interview with TNT Sports on Tuesday, he spoke openly about his ongoing difficulties. He said he had received widespread support but continued to struggle internally. The snooker star admitted he was finding it difficult to see a future.
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Allen also revealed how deeply his mental health challenges had affected his relationship with the sport. He said snooker had been his passion since he was 12, making his current situation especially painful. Despite these difficulties, he chose to return to competition at the Northern Ireland Open. His appearance marked his first match since the World Snooker Championship in April.
The Northern Irish player last competed at the World Championship, where he reached the semi-finals against Wu Yize. Allen came close to securing victory after taking a 16-15 lead in the match. However, he missed a match-ball black from its spot and eventually lost the deciding frame. Wu went on to win the championship.
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Following his latest statement, Allen reiterated that he was working to improve his situation. His decision to speak publicly has also highlighted the personal challenges athletes can face beyond competition. Although his Northern Ireland Open campaign began with defeat, Allen’s comments focused on his efforts to move forward. He acknowledged the support he had received while stressing that his struggles remained ongoing.