Home Nations ranking leader Mark Allen exits Welsh Open at opening hurdle

The former world number one - who turned 40 last Sunday - was defeated in his first match of the tournament by qualifier David Grace, 4-2, on Monday evening.

Everything was going according to plan for the 12-time ranking event winner as a break of 56 helped him take frame one, before establishing a decent lead in the second. But a missed brown when 45 points up seemed to be a catalyst for a change in momentum.

Grace - a former UK Championship semi-finalist who regained his tour card via Q-School last year - levelled the match via the final pink.

Allen nudged back in front after a run of 57 in frame three, but fellow 40-year-old Grace strung together the next three frames with the aid of 59, 55 and 67 to record an impressive victory. It was his first win over Allen on the professional circuit - he had lost all the previous three.

Speaking after his success, Grace said: "I haven't had many wins over top 16 players so it has to be one of my best ever. When you drop off the tour and go to Q School you start having doubts about whether this is what you want to be doing. But then in the heat of battle you realise you still want it more than anything. I have had deep runs before and it would be nice to experience something like that again."

Next up for Grace is a meeting with Welsh youngster Dylan Emery in the last 32 this Wednesday.

As for Allen, his quest to become the first player to have won all four Home Nations Series events is halted for another year - that’s provided no-one achieves the unprecedented feat first.

Up until now, Allen had enjoyed a fantastic Home Nations Series campaign, winning the English Open in Brentwood last September, and reaching the semi-finals of both the Northern Ireland Open and Scottish Open.

These results meant that the former Masters and UK Champion came into the final leg of this season’s Series in top spot on the order or merit, in pole position for the £150,000 jackpot bonus on offer to the player who accumulates the most prize money across all four events held this term.

Despite Allen’s early exit, he remains in a strong position to pocket the weighty bonus, although destiny is now out of his hands.

Should either Scottish Open Champion Chris Wakelin or Northern Ireland Open Champion Jack Lisowski make the final in Llandudno, they would usurp Allen’s total and take the additional prize. Wakelin and Lisowski are in the same half of the draw, though, so they both can’t reach the title match.

The other two players who can also win the rankings race are Chinese pair Zhou Yuelong (English Open runner-up) and Chang Bingyu (Scottish Open runner-up), who are also in the bottom half of the draw alongside Wakelin and Lisowski. However, both players must win their maiden ranking title in order to finish as number one.

There is big prize money on offer for the Welsh Open itself with £100,000 for the champion - and The Ray Reardon Trophy - with the runner-up consoled with £45,000.

To view the full draw, results, schedule, and other information from the 2026 Welsh Open, visit here.