UK Championship 2024: Mark Allen Hits Back at Jack Lisowski’s Comments

Mark Allen, Northern Ireland’s number one, continued his strong run at the UK Championship, defeating Jack Lisowski 6-3 to secure his sixth semi-final appearance in York.

The clash brought together two contrasting styles: Lisowski’s open attacking play against Allen who has grown to adopt a more disciplined and strategic approach in the past few years. 

Allen Calls Out Lisowski for ‘Grinder’ Comments

In the lead-up to the match, Lisowski had referred to Allen as a “grinder” during his post-match media duties, following his last 16 victory over Ali Carter. 

While intended as an observation, the comment didn’t sit well with Allen, who believes such remarks only serve to strengthen his resolve.

“The fact that he keeps openly saying it about me gives me confidence, if I’m honest,” Allen said after the match. “So maybe next time he won’t.”

While Allen has a great deal of respect for Lisowski, he suggested that the Englishman would be better off letting his performances speak for themselves rather than engaging in psychological games.

“There’s definitely no malice in it with Jack because he’s such a good guy off the table. I have a lot of time for him,” Allen acknowledged. 

“But maybe next time he won’t speak like that. It’s okay to think it, but to openly say it definitely gives me more confidence. Out there, from 3-1 to 4-3, I had really frozen him out, and I’m thinking he’s probably getting really annoyed there in his seat.”

Punched the Table

Allen pointed to Lisowski’s visible frustration during the match, suggesting that his inability to control his emotions is hindering his ability to thrive in high-pressure moments.

“It boiled over when he missed the red and punched the table,” Allen observed. 

“You have to pick up on these small things because it’s tough out there. It’s fine margins whenever you’re playing the top players at the top level.”

“For me, that’s unforgivable”

Despite being one of the most naturally gifted attackers in the sport, Lisowski has yet to win a ranking title, losing all six finals he has reached. 

Allen attributes this to a lack of competitive grit, which he believes is critical for success in the latter stages of major tournaments.

“Jack doesn’t ever lose because he can’t pot the balls and can’t score. It’s just the competitive side,” Allen explained.

One moment during their match particularly frustrated Allen, as he felt Lisowski gave up prematurely in a frame.

“There was one of the frames tonight when he gave up when he only needed one snooker. For me, that’s unforgivable. You at least try. It’s unlikely you’re going to win that frame with how the balls were, but at least try.”

Jack Needs More than Just Talent

Allen rounded off his remarks with a mix of praise and constructive criticism, emphasising that talent alone isn’t enough to succeed at the highest level of snooker.

“It’s that sort of thing that frustrates me watching Jack. As a fan of Jack, I love the way he plays, but sometimes you need a bit more than just talent and potting balls.”

Allen will now turn his attention to tonight’s semi-final against Barry Hawkins as he continues his quest for a second UK Championship crown.