Snooker Chief Confirms Support For Mark Allen and No Pressure Placed on Him For Return

Having withdrawn from several tournaments due to personal reasons, former world number one Allen returned to competitive snooker for the first time in over five months at the 2026 Northern Ireland Open earlier this week in Belfast.

Playing in his home professional event - a title he memorably won in 2021 and 2022 - Allen lost 4-2 to close friend and practise partner Jordan Brown at the Waterfront Hall.

After the match during an emotional live TNT Sports interview with Rachel Casey, a visibly distressed Allen revealed the mental strain he has been dealing with, saying that he is currently “just trying to survive”.

The 12-time ranking event winner also suggested that he may retire from top-flight snooker having gone full circle with his first match as a professional coming at the Waterfront in 2005.

On social media the following day, Allen posted a more positive update to explain that he’d been treated for 10 weeks at a mental health clinic before discharging to play in Belfast, and the progress he has made.

Also in the post, the 40-year-old thanked his daughter, staff and patients at the clinic, the fans for their support, as well as officials from the snooker authorities who have been in regular contact with him during his treatment.

In his message, Allen said: “I also owed that to World Snooker who have been amazing from day one in all this, in particular Simon Brownell and Neil Tomkins who have remained in touch regularly, even Simon paying me a visit in the clinic itself”.

Snooker bosses have been aware and providing support to Mark Allen

The chairman of the sport’s governing body the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) is Jason Ferguson, who is not only a tremendous global ambassador for the sport, but an ex top 32 professional player who competed three times at the Crucible Theatre.

Speaking on talkSPORT to Jim White earlier this week, Ferguson said Allen’s post-match interview was difficult to watch, although officials have been aware of his struggles and been providing him with support.

"Initial reaction for me was that this was a really tough watch to see Mark so low” said Ferguson.

"In all honesty, we are aware of his struggles and have been for many, many months and for a very long time. And through that, there has been help put in place and services put in place, but it was a really tough watch yesterday and it was heart-breaking really”.

No pressure was placed on Allen to play at Northern Ireland Open

Whilst the authorities want to see Allen back playing, Ferguson stressed that the former Masters and UK champion was placed under no pressure to feature in his home event.

"I guess the decision was down to Mark himself. He obviously made the decision himself that he wanted to compete again.

“We all want to see him compete but what I must stress is that there is no pressure on him to compete and appear and be there.

“But I do get it from Mark's personal point of view, it's here in Belfast...it's where things started for him, it's where he had great success, and he was playing his friend Jordan Brown.

“I think for him, he wanted to do it and the decision has to be down to him. As I say, there is no pressure on him at all; all we want to do is support him, give him the support he needs in order to get back, and we love having him around. He's not only a great competitor, he's also a lovely person - he'd give you the shirt off his back, he's an incredible young man.”

Authorities will ‘do everything they can’ to bring Allen back to snooker

Ferguson went on to talk about the mental health risks attached to sports, and how snooker’s governing body provides a network of services for a range of issues a professional sportsperson may need help or guidance with.

“There is a travelling roadshow snooker...we are quite a close-knit sport. When people do arrive at these destinations, there are checks in place to make sure people are OK, and I think we do do quite a lot in terms of player support and player education and induction to the tour, introductions to people. And I think those services are extremely well used, and I think they are absolutely essential not just in our sport, but in all sports”.

Asked by White whether he thinks Allen will play again, Ferguson said he would be extremely upset if the Antrim cueist didn’t.

"We'll do everything we can to bring him back to the sport and we hope he enjoys that time and competes for many, many years to come because he has a great future in the sport. I know he's very low now but he has a great future here.”