Allen content with career accolades but would be 'very disappointed' if world title dream unfulfilled

Allen, who turned 40-years-old earlier this season, is into the last 16 of snooker's flagship event following a 10-6 comeback win over Zhang Anda on Sunday at the Crucible.

The number 14 seed was in trouble early on as he fell 5-2 down to the Chinese qualifier, but crucially took the final frame of the opening session on Saturday to trail by two.

Returning the next morning, Allen - who hadn't registered a single half-century break until then - kicked into action winning seven out of eight frames with three century breaks (140, 109, 129), and a match-winning effort of 81.

Speaking after the match, Allen revealed that he has been on a health-kick in recent weeks to prepare for snooker's annual marathon in Sheffield, but after an "embarrassing" first session, he decided to temporarily change tack with a night of drinking, betting, and watching football with mates.

The Manchester United fan said: "I prepared a little differently for this morning. I went and had some drinks with my mates and probably a few too many drinks, and then just sat and watched the football.”

Allen still has ‘fire in his belly’ to achieve world championship goal

Allen claimed his 12th ranking title back in September at the English Open in Brentwood. Only 10 players in professional snooker history have won more.

It was two years ago when Allen became world number one - the first player from Northern Ireland to achieve that feat. He held that status for a few months before slipping down the rankings, although he steadied his ship with that aforementioned victory at the English.

'The Pistol' won the Masters in 2018, and the UK Championship in 2022 - two of the three 'Triple Crown' majors - but he has yet to land the sport's ultimate prize, the world championship title.

Allen has been an ever-present in the main draw of the World Snooker Championship since his Crucible debut in 2007; this year is his 20th consecutive appearance on snooker's grandest stage.

Sheffield has not been a happy green baize destination for him, though. He reached the semi-finals on only his third visit in 2009, but had to wait 14 years for another one-table outing when he lost to Mark Selby in 2023.

Firmly in the conversation of 'who is the greatest player never to have won the world title', Allen was asked in his post-match press conference at the Crucible how he would assess his career if he doesn't win the big one by the time he retires.

He replied: "I think in the grand scheme of things I've probably still had a decent career.

“There's probably only ten players that have won more than me, but I'd still say it's very disappointing. With all great respect to the tournaments I've won - you want to be world champion.

"That's what you start playing the game for. As a 12-year-old boy starting out I wanted to be world champion - you remember potting that long black to win the world championships.

"Yeah, that fire in my belly is still there. So I'd look back on it as a disappointment, but I'm sure that other people might say I did alright."

Allen will face either world number two Kyren Wilson or teenager Stan Moody in round two at the Crucible Theatre later this week. That best-of-25 frames, three-session affair begins on Thursday night at 19:00BST.

To view the full draw, results, schedule, and other information from the 2026 World Snooker Championship, visit our tournament information centre here.