Mark Allen questions what 'frustrating' Jack Lisowski is thinking

12/13/2024 06:08 AM

Mark Allen would love to know what Jack Lisowski is thinking when he’s at the table, finding his unpredictable performances frustrating.

Allen beat Lisowski 4-3 at the Scottish Open on Thursday night in an entertaining contest in Edinburgh.

Jackpot had the first chance to win the decider but was unlucky not to be left a nice shot on a red after going into the pack, took on a difficult pot, missed and Allen stepped in to do enough to win.

‘I thought it was a good game, there were a few mistakes, but it was a good game. It’s always a tough match against Jack,’ Allen told Eurosport after the win.

Alan McManus suggested of Lisowski that ‘he goes from a million dollars to not so good in a blink of an eye’ and Allen agreed, saying that it can be frustrating to watch even when he was benefitting from the inconsistency.

‘It’s frustrating at times watching him, it’s obviously great when he’s doing that when you’re playing against him, but as someone who really enjoys watching Jack play, you’d love to know what’s going on in his head,’ said the Pistol.

‘He plays some unbelievable snooker, looks great and then misses one in the balls that you don’t expect at all.’

Asked for the one piece of advice he would give Lisowski as he continues his search for a first ranking title, Allen suggested his thought process at the table is probably not right.

‘I would need to know what he’s thinking out there because his technique looks perfect, so you wonder what goes wrong, you wonder what he’s thinking, is he thinking the correct things?’ Allen said.

‘I think when he breaks that duck he’ll be off and running.’

Lisowski has been to six ranking finals and been a regular face in the world’s top 16, appearing at the Masters five times, but has not been able to make that next jump up to title-winner and truly elite performer.

The 33-year-old doesn’t appear to be getting any closer as his last final was in 2021 and he hasn’t been to a ranking semi-final since October 2023.

Shaun Murphy says Lisowski is unlikely to be bothered by the discussion surrounding why he hasn’t stepped up a level and that is a good thing.

‘I don’t think Jack, from what I know of him, pays that much attention to it all and that would be my advice to him,’ Murphy told Metro. ‘I doubt he reads a lot of coverage, I think between events he keeps himself out of the snooker bubble.

‘It’s almost impossible to believe that someone so gifted might not win. But from what I can see you have to give everyone else a bit of credit, he keeps walking into people playing well.

‘I think you just can’t get caught up in it, you have to just push on. For Jack it is still a question of when not if, I think when he learns how to win then he might win a lot. I haven’t seen many players with more talent than Jack Lisowski.’

Talking last month after coming through UK Championship qualifying, Lisowski said he feels relaxed with his game at the moment, although that means he is not too fussed when he wins or loses matches.

'Since the World Championships I've been enjoying my snooker again,' he said. 'It's not like the end of the world if I lose and I'm not that bothered if I win either so I'm in a good place.

'I sorted my life out off the table, got happier, sorted some things out. You get older and wiser. I'm feeling good.'