Snooker
Mark Allen’s Mental Revival: Eyes Set on Completing the Triple Crown
Mark Allen reflects on overcoming personal challenges and reviving his snooker career, with his sights set on completing the coveted Triple Crown. The Northern Irish potter's recent success highlights his transformation and determination to excel.
Image Credits: VCG/VCG via Getty Images
Mark Allen feels he is making up for the “lost years” of his career. The Northern Irish potter, 38, dominated on the amateur circuit, winning the European and World amateur titles in 2004, before turning pro a year later.
Allen struggled with off-table troubles with bankruptcy issues, a divorce, and a custody battle after the pandemic. Things got so bad that the Ulster potter feared he may have to quit the sport.
A Life Altering Wake-Up Call
But he turned his life around by losing a phenomenal seven stone after a grave warning from a friend that he would not see daughter Harleigh, walk down the aisle if he carried on eating to excess.
The Pistol has not looked back since, pocketing six big titles in the last two seasons, and proudly ascending to world No.1 for the first time in his career.
I think I am making up for those lost years. But I don’t want to look at it with any regrets
Mark Allen
“I probably do wish I did things earlier to make the changes off the table that I have, but it is what it is.”
“I still did all right throughout all of that, but I’m in a much better place in everything, in all walks of life.”
“I’m finally showing what my family knew I was capable of for all these years.”
“I probably had the most dominant amateur career there’s ever been. That’s the sort of confidence I want to take into the professional game. I still feel like I have a lot more to prove.”
A New Mindset
Allen has been one of the major forces among the game’s elite in the past couple of seasons after putting his problems in the rear-view mirror and linking up with sports psychologist Paul Gaffney.
Only Ronnie O’Sullivan and Judd Trump have featured as regularly in the sport’s winners’ enclosure.
Image Credit: World Snooker Tour (WST)
"Anytime you can win a tournament is good because the standard’s so good,” added Antrim ace Allen.
"I’ve won six tournaments in two years, but it’s crazy.”
“Judd and Ronnie both won five last season, it’s crazy.”
"If you spread it across us three it makes it look like we’re winning all the tournaments.”
“But the game’s hard, if you’re winning tournaments at any stage of your career you’re doing a lot of things right.”
I feel like there’s still a lot more for me to offer this game.
Mark Allen
The Quest for the Triple Crown
Allen is a decorated 11-time ranking-event winner and is two-thirds of the way to completing the game’s coveted Triple Crown, which only 11 players have ever achieved.
The World Championship is the only piece of that puzzle left for Allen to conquer.
Allen had a horrendous record at the sport’s spiritual home with just one quarter-final in 11 attempts between 2012-2022.
He reached the semi-final in 2023 and was edged out in the last-16 last term by a great John Higgins clearance in a decider.
“There’s so much more improvement I can make.”
“As long as I’m winning tournaments and ticking boxes along the way then I feel like I’ll always have a chance in Sheffield.”
“I’m in a much better place physically and mentally for the challenge that Sheffield brings.”
Shane is an experienced sports journalist with over a decade on the front line, covering everything from football to horse racing. A familiar face in the snooker pressroom, his work regularly appears in the Daily Mirror, Daily Express, and Daily Star, alongside SportsBoom.
While snooker is where many readers know him best, cricket is his true sporting passion, though he tends to keep that side of him separate from his professional beat.
A staunch traditionalist, he’s unlikely to share your enthusiasm if you believe The Hundred is the future of Test cricket.