Mark Allen makes bleak admission after early World Grand Prix exit

03/05/2025 03:00 PM

Mark Allen says his confidence ‘is on the floor’ and he hopes not to qualify for the upcoming Players Championship after an early exit from the World Grand Prix.

The Pistol took on Jimmy Robertson in the opening round in Hong Kong on Wednesday and things were going well as he took a 2-0 lead, making two half-centuries.

However, the world number 36 bounced back with a trio of half-centuries of his own and completed a 4-2 victory to book his spot in the last 16.

Allen had a brutally honest assessment of his performance after the defeat, writing on X: ‘If I could find a safety game, a few long pots and cut out the silly easy losses I'd maybe win a game or two 😂😂.

‘Confidence is on the floor. Roll on next season. Worlds next for me.’

The suggestion that the World Championship would be his next outing was something of a surprise as there is a good chance he could still qualify for the Players Championship in Telford later this month.

Allen’s position in the next tournament is not guaranteed, but it would take some surprise results in Hong Kong for him to slip outside the top 16 on the one-year ranking list.

Asked if he would play in the event if he does make it into the 16-man event, the Northern Irishman said: ‘I honestly hope I don't qualify.’

It is a surprise admission from a player who has had a decent season, reaching the semi-finals of the UK Championship and Masters, while he won the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship.

However, there have been some disappointing results in recent events, losing to Yuan Sijun in the second round of the Welsh Open, beaten by David Lilley early at the World Open and now out in the first round in Hong Kong.

In contrasting mood on Wednesday in Hong Kong, Neil Robertson was buoyant after a 4-0 win over Yuan to reach the last 16.

The Australian has switched to a titanium ferrule on his cue recently and he believes it will lead to more top performances.

‘Straight after the Welsh Open I had some major surgery done to my cue to get some new technology put on it,’ he told WST.

‘I needed a couple of weeks practice to get used to it, but it’s going absolutely amazing. I’m able to play shots that I haven’t been able to play for seven or eight years. Things I’m doing in practice are pretty exciting.

‘I just need to get used to it, experience what it’s like out on the main arena with the different cloth, but once I fully adapt I’m going to play some pretty fun snooker, put it that way.’

He added: ‘As soon as I wake up I’m thinking I can’t wait to practise, and it’s the first time I have felt that in over 20 years.’

There was surprise news on Wednesday as Jack Lisowski withdrew from the event due to personal reasons.

Jackpot’s last 16 opponent, Judd Trump, receives a bye to the quarter-finals where he will play either Hossein Vafaei or Xu Si.