In an exclusive interview with SportsBoom.com, Mark Allen, the Northern Irish snooker sensation, shared his sentiments ahead of the highly anticipated 2024 World Snooker Championships. As he gears up to face Robbie Williams in his first match, Allen emanates a sense of confidence coupled with a pragmatic outlook on the challenges ahead.

Reflecting on his current form, Allen expressed a sense of contentment with his game, emphasising a newfound satisfaction that surpasses even his earlier tournament victories this year. "I feel like I'm in a good place right now in my game," Allen stated. "I’m in a great place mentally, it’s been another great year for me, so the plan is to finish it off well and win the big one."

However, Allen remains grounded, recognising the formidable line-up of opponents he must navigate through. Addressing pundits' expectations, particularly those labelling him a favourite to reach the final due to his perceived 'favourable' draw, Allen offered a tempered perspective. "You take Ronnie [O’Sullivan] and Judd [Trump] out of the equation, it’s a favourable draw from that aspect," he acknowledged. "But I still have to go through a hell of a lot of world-class players if I want to make it to the final."

“The way I look at it is, I have a tough match in Robbie Williams first. Then potentially one of the all-time greats in John Higgins. Followed by the likes of former champion Shaun Murphy.”

Acknowledging the criticism levelled at him for adopting a defensive style of play in recent tournaments, Allen remained unfazed, asserting that such scrutiny doesn't deter him. "To be honest, none of that bothers me," he remarked. "I feel like I'm playing into my strengths."

“I don't actively choose to go out and play negatively. But the safety is so good at the minute that I'm creating a lot of opportunities for myself. In the previous years when I wasn't really creating opportunities in my safety, I would've felt like I had to go for the more difficult shots for this. It might be seen as negative for me, that's a positive,” he added. 

Image credit: WST

When asked whether this version of himself represents his peak, Allen remained cautiously optimistic. "I'm close. I still feel there's improvement to do," he admitted. "I’m happy where my game is at, this is probably the best I’ve been so far in my career."

"I think the day that I feel like I can't improve is a worrying day," Allen remarked, with a hint of humour in his tone. "I'll probably walk away from the sport when that comes, but I still feel like I'm going to improve." This candid acknowledgment underscores Allen's relentless pursuit of excellence. Despite his impressive track record and current form, he remains steadfast in his belief that there's always room for growth and refinement.