Mark Allen has spoken positively about the beginning of a new journey after revealing he has spent 10 weeks in a mental health clinic.
The 40-year-old returned to professional snooker on Tuesday for the first time since May, losing 4-2 to his friend Jordan Brown at the Northern Ireland Open.
He than gave a concerning interview to TNT Sports in which he revealed he was seriously considering quitting snooker and said: ‘At the minute I’m just trying to survive.’
‘I’ve been flooded with support but the problems are within,’ he said. ‘I just don’t see a future with snooker in it, 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.’
The former Masters and UK champion has now spoken further on what he has been going through and why he chose to play in Belfast on Tuesday.
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While he accepts that he is ‘not ok’ he is looking to the future and the fight to turn things around.
Allen wrote on social media: ‘Everything I said in that interview was true. However, rest assured I’m doing my best to turn things round.
‘I have been in a mental health clinic for the last 10 weeks, finally discharging so I could attempt to play in Belfast.
‘I owed that to my family, in particular my daughter to see me play for what could be the last time….. I also owed it to the fans who have supported me throughout my 21 years on tour.’
Allen thanked people within snooker, including WST CEO Simon Brownell and WPBSA Player Relations Manager, for their help over recent months.
He continued: ‘I also owed that to World Snooker who have been amazing from day on in all this, in particular Simon Brownell and Neil Tomkins who have remained in touch regularly, even Simon paying me a visit in the clinic itself.
‘I’m not ok, but I’m ok in that itself. I’ve been much worse in the last few months than you saw yesterday. I literally didn’t see a future in anything…..
‘My daughter kept me going, the therapists, staff and all the other patients were amazing and helped me through some really dark days.
‘I see the light now that I couldn’t see before but I do now. I also know it won’t happen overnight. I’m a work in progress!!! My fight and determination on the table has always been there for ones to see. I need to show those same fighting qualities off it now for a while.
This is heartbreaking to watch 🥺💔
— TNT Sports (@tntsports) October 20, 2026
Mark Allen admits he may never play snooker again. We’re all rooting for you, Mark 🙏❤️ pic.twitter.com/9v6wvWMflE
‘Please don’t detract anything from Jordan yesterday, he’s been aware of my struggles and that can’t have been easy to play in but he handled it with grace and skill as I knew he would. Im proud to call him a friend.
‘I hope the rest of the event is a success and I will continue my treatments going forward and then see what’s ahead.
‘Thank you to every single message I have received on here, Instagram, Facebook, text messages and WhatsApps, I’ve seen them all but a bit overwhelmed to reply right now. Just know that they have helped me a lot but I’m not going anywhere just yet!!!! I have so much to live for and this is only the beginning of my new journey.
‘Also, I was not made to do any interviews, I was simply given a choice and felt I owed it to everyone to speak. The media team at WST have been incredible through all this too.
‘Thank you all x.’
Brown, who has been friends and practice partners with Allen for many years told ITV after their match: ‘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.
‘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.’
Fellow professional Anthony McGill sent a public message of support to Allen after he beat Jack Lisowski later in the day in Belfast.
‘Can I just say on behalf of the other players for Mark Allen. Everybody loves Mark Allen,’ the Scot told TNT Sports.
‘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.’