Mark Allen reveals 10-week mental health clinic stay before Northern Ireland Open return
Mark Allen, 40, has revealed he spent 10 weeks in a mental health clinic before returning to play in this week’s Northern Ireland Open, he wrote on Wednesday. In a long statement posted on X he said he was "not OK" but vowed to show his renowned "fighting qualities" as he continues his recovery.
Allen’s 4-2 defeat by his friend and compatriot Jordan Brown on Tuesday was his first match since his world championship semi-final loss to Wu Yize in April, when he missed a black off its spot that would have given him the win. Since that Crucible defeat he had stayed away from the tour for unspecified personal reasons that are understood not to relate to any repercussions from the manner of his defeat at the Crucible.
After his loss to Brown, Allen conducted an emotional interview with TNT Sports in which he said he was "really overwhelmed" and suggested his career could be over. He wrote on Wednesday: "Everything I said in that interview was true. However, rest assured I’m doing my best to turn things round."
Detailing his time away, Allen said: "I have been in a mental health clinic for the last 10 weeks, finally discharging so I could attempt to play in Belfast. I owed that to my family, in particular my daughter to see me play for what could be the last time … I also owed it to the fans who have supported me throughout my 21 years on tour."
He thanked the governing body for its support in his statement, writing: "I also owed that to World Snooker who have been amazing from day one in all this, in particular [chief executive] Simon Brownell and [WPBSA Players chief operating officer] Neil Tomkins who have remained in touch regularly, even Simon paying me a visit in the clinic itself."
Allen described the depth of his struggles, saying: "I’m not OK, but I’m OK in that itself. I’ve been much worse in the last few months than you saw yesterday. I literally didn’t see a future in anything. My daughter kept me going, the therapists, staff and all the other patients were amazing and helped me through some really dark days." He is a former world No 1 who has won both UK and Masters titles within a total of 12 ranking tournament victories, has reached the world championship semi-finals three times and was ranked world No 1 for four months in 2024.
In the same statement Allen added: "I see the light now that I couldn’t see before but I do now. I also know it won’t happen overnight. I’m a work in progress. My fight and determination on the table has always been there for ones to see. I need to show those same fighting qualities off it now for a while." He also asked that attention not be taken away from Brown’s performance: "Please don’t detract anything from Jordan yesterday, he’s been aware of my struggles and that can’t have been easy to play in but he handled it with grace and skill as I knew he would. I’m proud to call him a friend."
He concluded: "I hope the rest of the event is a success and I will continue my treatments going forward and then see what’s ahead." He said he had discharged from the clinic so he could attempt to play in Belfast and that he will continue his treatments going forward.