Mark Allen (snooker player)

Mark Allen
Allen at the 2015 German Masters
Born (1986-02-22) 22 February 1986 (age 38)
Antrim, Northern Ireland
Sport country Northern Ireland
NicknameThe Pistol[1]
Professional2005–present
Highest ranking1 (May 2024–August 2024)
Current ranking 3 (as of 11 November 2024)
Maximum breaks4
Century breaks638 (as of 26 November 2024)
Tournament wins
Ranking11
Minor-ranking5

Mark Allen (born 22 February 1986) is a Northern Irish professional snooker player from Antrim. He won the European and World Amateur Championship in 2004[2] and turned professional in 2005. Allen entered the world top 16 after only three seasons. He lifted his first ranking title at the 2012 World Open, defeating Stephen Lee 10–1 in the final; he has since won a career total of 11 ranking titles.[3] He has won two Triple Crown titles—he defeated Kyren Wilson 10–7 to win the 2018 Masters and Ding Junhui by the same score to win the 2022 UK Championship—and has twice reached the semi-finals of the World Snooker Championship, in 2009 and 2023.

The 2022–23 season was the best of Allen's career to date as he reached four ranking finals, won three ranking titles and reached number three in the world rankings.[4] He was ranked world number one from May to August 2024. He has compiled over 600 century breaks in professional competition, including four maximum breaks.

  1. ^ "Mark Allen". World Snooker Tour. Archived from the original on 29 April 2024. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  2. ^ "Allen pockets world title". BBC Sport. 4 December 2004. Archived from the original on 10 October 2007. Retrieved 8 June 2009.
  3. ^ Bisset, Roddy (22 January 2023). "Allen Edges Trump In Epic". World Snooker. Archived from the original on 23 January 2023. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  4. ^ "Mark Allen turns the air blue after winning World Grand Prix in dramatic final frame decider". belfasttelegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 23 January 2023.