'I messed about too long' Mark Allen keen to cut loose and return to attacking snooker instincts
Mark Allen is going back to his attacking instincts in order to replicate the sort of form that saw him reach snooker’s world number one spot a couple of years ago.
The Northern Irishman was talking about his new approach and ‘going it alone’ following a 5-0 whitewash victory over Zhou Yuelong in the last 16 of the World Open in China on Thursday.
A rerun of their thrilling English Open final from last September, Allen began the tie at the Yushan Sports Centre in style with a break of 129.
Further efforts of 59 and 51 helped him to a 4-0 mid-session interval lead, and on resumption he completed the clean sweep.
Next up for Allen in the £825,000 event is Chinese youngster Wu Yize, who eliminated world number two Kyren Wilson, 5-2, during the same afternoon session in the Far East.
Allen claims: “I’ve just messed about too much with coaches”
Speaking to the World Snooker Tour shortly after the match, Allen - whose style in recent times has been become slightly protracted and more defensive - said he feels he may need to go it alone in order to get back to the top of his game on a more consistent basis.
“I don’t feel like I’ve been playing very well this season at all” said the 40-year-old, who despite that is in a good position to qualify for the 12-player Tour Championship held in Manchester later this month.
“That’s not through the want of trying. I’ve been practicing really hard on my game and just haven’t had my best stuff so far this season, but it’d be a nice time to put it right with a couple of big tournaments coming up.
“Honestly, I think in the last couple of years I’ve just messed about too much with coaches and stuff, and to be honest it’s pretty much ruined my confidence.
“I’ve just been working on so many things - they probably would be good in the long run, but they haven’t been quick fixes and I’ve really not enjoyed some of the changes that I’ve been trying to make with different coaches, and I feel like just going back to basics and just trying to enjoy my snooker a bit more.
“Just trusting myself; at the end of the day, I got to world number one pretty much on my own, so why do I need a coach? I just feel like I’ve messed about too long with coaches.”
Allen forcing himself to play more aggressively
Former Masters and UK Champion Allen - who currently has 12 ranking titles to his name - become his nation’s first snooker world number one in the spring of 2024.
After a brief spell at the top of the standings tree, Allen has gradually slipped down the rankings and currently occupies 15th.
In order to climb the ladder again, Allen said he is making a concerted effort to return to his attacking green baize instincts: “I want to try and be more aggressive and score heavier but it’s not that easy, you can’t just force it.
“I feel like I’m taking a few more on over the last few tournaments than maybe I had been, but that’s just down to confidence.
“I’m forcing myself to take them on in practice when I’m playing people in the club, and it might look silly sometimes when you’re losing a lot of frames against people that you expect to be beating, but I feel like that’s sort of helped me when it comes to my matches now.
“I’m seeing those balls and going ‘I’d go for this in the club, so go for it now’.
“It’s going to take time, I’m not going to lie, it’s not going to be an overnight thing, but I’m happier that I’m trying my own thing rather than doing what someone else is telling me to do that I don’t really trust.”
To view the full draw, results, schedule, and other information from the 2026 World Open, visit here.