Mark Allen hints at UK Championship entry after 'overwhelming' support in mental health battle
Mark Allen has sent thanks for the ‘overwhelming’ support people have given him over the past few days in his mental health battle, and suggested that he may enter the 2026 UK Championship.
Allen returned to competitive action earlier this week on home soil at the 2026 Northern Ireland Open; he hadn’t featured on the World Snooker Tour in over five months having withdrawn from several events due to personal reasons.
The former world number one lost 4-2 to close friend and practise partner Jordan Brown in the opening round at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast. After the match, a visibly distressed Allen gave an emotional live interview on TNT Sports in which he told presenter Rachel Casey about being “in a bad place” and that he was “just trying to survive”.
During the interview, Allen also suggested that he may retire from snooker, saying that he didn’t see a future in it, and having gone full circle with his first match as a professional coming at the Waterfront venue in 2005.
Fellow Antrim cueist Brown - who went on to reach the last 16 - expressed his concern and love for his mate Allen, saying the match was the hardest he has ever had to deal with.
The day after the contest, Allen posted a more upbeat message on social media, explaining that he had been receiving treatment at a mental health clinic for 10 weeks before discharging to play in his home professional tournament, and that he could “see the light now.”
He thanked his daughter, staff and patients at the clinic, the snooker fans, and the sport’s authorities who have been offering him support throughout the ordeal.
Allen aiming to be in a “better place” before UK Championship
However, in that message on Wednesday, he again stated that it could’ve been his last match in snooker’s big time, although in a more recent social media update, Allen alluded to entering the UK Championship in a few weeks time.
Posting on social media on Sunday morning, the 12-time ranking event winner again thanked people for their support, pledged to shine a light on mental health issues, and getting ready for the first Triple Crown event of the season.
Completely overwhelmed by all the messages I have received since my statement. As I continue my treatment and my recovery now know that I simply have to raise more awareness around mental health in the future Best part of 6 weeks before the UK Championships starts and all being well I’ll be in a better place by then but for now it’s just one day at a time Thanks again for all your support. It’s meant so so much to myself and my family
— Mark Allen (@pistol147) October 25, 2026
Allen posted: “Completely overwhelmed by all the messages I have received since my statement.
“As I continue my treatment and my recovery now know that I simply have to raise more awareness around mental health in the future
“Best part of 6 weeks before the UK Championships starts and all being well I’ll be in a better place by then but for now it’s just one day at a time
“Thanks again for all your support. It’s meant so so much to myself and my family”
Allen withdrew from the International Championship qualifiers that were held a few weeks ago, so he won’t be in Nanjing over the coming days, and he hasn’t qualified for next month’s Champion of Champions. Therefore, his next possible engagement on the World Snooker Tour is the UK Championship - a title he claimed in 2022 when he came back from 6-1 down to defeat Ding Junhui, 10-7 in the final.
Currently 12th in the world rankings, Allen is certain of being a top 16 seed for the tournament, meaning he won’t have to qualify, and goes straight through to the main draw, televised stages held at the Barbican Centre in York between November 28 to December 6.