Allen considers retirement after Northern Ireland Open exit

Mark Allen said he is contemplating retirement after losing 4-2 to Jordan Brown in the first round of the Northern Ireland Open at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast on 20 October 2026. The 40-year-old told reporters retiring from snooker is "something I have been contemplating for a while" following the defeat.

Allen's first event since the World Championship semi-final in Sheffield in May ended in defeat to fellow Antrim player Jordan Brown; he had missed a match-winning black in the penultimate frame of that semi-final against Wu Yize and then lost the deciding frame to the eventual champion. The 40-year-old has won 12 ranking tournaments, including the 2022 UK Championship, since turning professional in 2005, and the article says this year has been challenging for him.

Allen said showing up to play Brown after a spell away from competition was an "achievement" and earlier told TNT Sports he was in a "bad place at the minute", adding he does not "see a future with snooker in it". The report also notes Allen has been a notable absentee from the World Snooker Tour circuit since the World Championship.

He received a warm reception from the Waterfront Hall crowd on his return to the arena where he became back-to-back champion in 2021 and 2022, and he told BBC Sport NI: "I felt like I did not want my last match to be remembered for that semi-final in Sheffield." He added: "I thought it would be a bit of nostalgia to go out playing Jordan in the Waterfront where it all started in 2005 and that would be a more fitting end if I do call it a day," and said, "I think if I hadn't have been playing Jordan, I probably would not have played."

Reflecting on his recent period away from the game, Allen said: "The last three months have been really, really difficult and I think even just being here today is an achievement." He also said: "For me, today was not about the result or the performance, it was trying to enjoy the experience of playing one of my best mates in one of my favourite arenas, in one of my favourite tournaments." On his immediate plans he added: "I am not going to announce it [retirement] right now after a defeat but it is something I have been contemplating for a while and something needs to change within the next six weeks before the UK Championship for me to show up and I need to work hard on myself in the next few weeks and see what is around the corner."

Brown, the world number 65, described the victory as "the least satisfying" he has ever had and spoke about his own difficulties, saying: "It is overwhelming for Mark here with his family, friends and all the fans who have paid good money to see him play." He added: "It is very difficult. I have my own battles to go through. I am in a precarious place in the rankings, and I lost my mum recently. It just puts everything into perspective. The general public seem to think we are just robots who just turn up to pot a few balls, it is not like that at all."

Matches between Brown and Allen had been close historically, and Tuesday's win was the 39-year-old's first victory over his close friend. On whether he thought Allen would reconsider retiring, Brown said: "I really hope so," and added: "The first words I said to him today was it was great to see him back and we had a big cuddle. It is tough to see him going through that. I have no doubt he will come back. Snooker is his love, he is absolutely brilliant and he is a top bloke, I wish him all the best."

Brown progressed to the last 32 and will face Michael Holt.