Mark Allen

A packed Waterfront Hall was right behind the Antrim cueman in the £427,000 showpiece tournament but the Australian World No.3 put up a massive fight before ...

“We both lost some concentration, but in the last two frames I played really well. He will now need to come through qualifying to earn his place in the first Triple Crown event of the campaign. From the first time you pick up a cue and every time you walk into an academy and play on the table, you dream to win a trophy. He was runner-up to Michael Holt in the former and succumbed against Robertson in the latter. McGill pounced with a clearance of 73 to steal on the black and restore parity at 3-3. McGill took a tightly contested opening frame on the pink, before Zhou hit back with a break of exactly 100 to draw level.

Mark Allen's bid to defend his Northern Ireland Open title is still on after a dominant 6-2 win over Neil Robertson in the semi-finals. The goal will be to topple Zhou Yuelong and retain The Alex Higgins Trophy. Zhou was a 6-4 semi-final winner against ...

Zhou won 10-7 in the last 32 of the 2019 World Championship in Sheffield with Allen a 4-3 victor in the last 32 of the Scottish Open two years ago. Allen out of position after rolling in a second black and forced to run safe. Allen goes for a long red down table to yellow pocket, but nothing doing before Zhou teases in a fine red to left middle. Zhou attempts to cut in a red from the Allen break-off, but just overcuts the object ball. Allen forced to really scrap this out at moment. Allen looking to punish Zhou for that miss. Allen handed a second chance to get this frame won and close to 4-3 behind. Well, all happening as Allen tries and fails to power in brown and open reds. Allen with a four-frame burst to move one up in this final. Allen tidies up with some purpose. Allen wins a sixth straight frame for a 7-4 advantage. Zhou cutting a slightly dispirited figure.

Mark Allen and Zhou Yuelong will compete for the Alex Higgins Trophy in the 2022 Northern Ireland Open final on Sunday.

Chasing a seventh career ranking triumph, the Pistol will have vocal local support on his side as he attempts to successfully defend a ranking title for the second time in his career. [lost the title decider of the British Open](https://snookerhq.com/2022/10/03/ryan-day-lifts-clive-everton-trophy-british-open-win/) to Ryan Day at the start of this month. The Antrim man has enjoyed a terrific start to the 2022/23 campaign, with this run representing his second in succession to a ranking event final.

The Northern Ireland Open final is currently taking place in Belfast where defending champion Mark Allen is level with Zhou Yuelong.

The 24-year-old Chinese will face Neil Robertson or Mark Allen in the final following a 6-4 victory on Saturday afternoon. Zhou previously met Robertson in ...

It's amazing to win in front of my home fans and my friends and families. This is what we do in Northern Ireland, we support our own," said the Antrim man.

- NI fans react to Ian Baraclough sacking](https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/ian-baraclough-sacked-northern-ireland-25324686) [Sign up to our free sports newsletter ](https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/newsletter-preference-centre/)to get the latest headlines to your inbox. And he kept the famous trophy in Belfast as he triumphed again to secure the 16th spot at the upcoming Champion of Champions at the final attempt. “It’s amazing to win in front of my home fans and my friends and families. “I felt like I got out of jail, but I was really positive and played really well in the evening session. He’s my hero. “I feel like I won that match in the first session because I was hanging on and I managed to get out 4-4.

"This is vindication" - Mark Allen is left delighted and relieved after his latest Northern Ireland Open triumph in Belfast. The Home Nations series is back ...

Mark Allen wins eight successive frames to retain the Northern Ireland Open title as he clinches a 9-4 victory over Zhou Yuelong.

"He was playing immaculate safely and wasn't missing when in the balls. I just didn't think this day was ever going to happen." "I was constantly thinking of positive thoughts.

Mark Allen is going to savour every moment of retaining the Northern Ireland Open title. The Antrim man couldn't hide his delight in the Eurosport studio ...

Obviously, he's never won before and that was in my mind, to keep him working hard. Capturing the NI Open title sends another message to his contenders that he means business this term. "A number of shots I felt like I cued okay but they just weren't going where I wanted. Ultimately, Allen would level at 4-4 before the interval. Obviously, two days later, I had to pull out of the Champion of Champions and I won't have to do that this year. They sold their house to fund my career at the start. “To have my mum and dad in the background as well, yeah, it's very special for me. [Allen revealed he had declared himself bankrupt](https://www.eurosport.co.uk/snooker/the-only-choice-snooker-star-mark-allen-opens-up-on-bankruptcy-ahead-of-northern-ireland-open_sto9182575/story.shtml)and the 36-year-old also opened up about an arduous divorce process. My dad, in particular, lives and breathes for my snooker. And this time around, he intends to enjoy the celebrations. Looking at his trophy, Allen joked: “I wonder how many Jagerbombs you can fit in this? But, as he admits, that success was marred by problems away from the snooker table.

Mark Allen thanked his “hero” dad Ronnie for his support in difficult times after last night making it back-to-back BetVictor Northern Ireland Open titles ...

Allen dug deep and contributions of 68 and 55 helped him to claim the last three of the session to set up a grandstand finish. The 24-year-old composed breaks of 56 and 135 on his way to four on the bounce and a 4-1 advantage. Allen took the last three frames yesterday afternoon to end the session level with Zhou at 4-4.