Mark Allen scored his first ranking event victory for 19 months, beating Zhou Yuelong 9-8 to claim the title at the BetVictor English Open in Brentwood.
In a week of fightback victories for Allen, the shoe was on the other foot this evening. The Northern Irishman led 7-3, before being pegged back to trail 8-7. However, he showed his typical tenacity and grit to claim the final two frames and emerge victorious.
Allen’s heroics in previous rounds saw him defeat Ding Junhui 4-3 from 3-0 down in the last 16, Elliot Slessor 5-4 from 4-0 down in the quarters and Jak Jones 6-5 from 5-3 down in the semis.
It’s the 12th ranking event victory in Allen’s career, in what was his 20th appearance in a ranking final. He now draws level with Shaun Murphy in 10th position on the all-time event winner’s list.
The Pistol had failed to register since the 2024 Players Championship last February. That saw him slip down the Johnstone’s Paint World Rankings to tenth spot, having briefly occupied the summit last year. However, the £100,000 top prize now moves him up to seventh position.
It immediately puts Allen top of the BetVictor Home Nations Bonus standings. Whoever accumulates the most prize money across the four events will scoop a bumper £150,000 payout.
Defeat will come as a bitter pill to swallow for Zhou, after his huge efforts to regain the lead this evening. The Chinese cueman will have to wait for that elusive first ranking crown.
Zhou has now lost all four of his ranking final appearances, having suffered previous defeats at the 2020 European Masters and the 2020 Shoot Out. He was also runner-up to Allen at the 2023 Northern Ireland Open.
The first session ended with Allen holding a hefty 6-2 cushion. When play got underway in the evening, it was clear both players realised the importance of a strong start. A cagey 45-minute opener eventually went the way of Zhou, who reduced his arrears.
Allen then extended his advantage, but consecutive frames from Zhou ensured he trailed by just two frames at 7-5 heading into the mid-session interval.
When they returned Allen looked set to be moving one frame for victory before missing a red to the left middle on 60. Zhou stepped up with a gutsy 72 to steal on the black and make it 7-6.
Breaks of 60 and 53 then helped Zhou make it five on the bounce and move one away from a momentous victory at 8-7.
A remarkable 16th frame looked to be going to Allen when he compiled a run of 71, but an in off gave Zhou an opportunity. He got the required foul points to stand a chance of winning on the green, but Allen eventually forced a decider.
It was Allen who fired in a crucial break of 61 and he emerged victorious. Following final frame wins for Neil Robertson at the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters and Xiao Guodong at the Wuhan Open, it is the first time ever that three consecutive ranking events have come down to deciders.
“It means a lot. To win any tournament these days is good. To do it the way I’ve done this week too, coming from behind a lot,” said 39-year-old Allen.
“I was absolutely shattered. I think adrenaline got me through that first session and tonight I was really tired. It is no excuse for some of the balls I missed, but I was feeling it. At 8-7 I felt something and realised it was my chance to find a bit of form. I’m going to sleep well tonight.
“I think the least you can ask for from any player is application. So many guys would have given up in some of the positions I was in this week. I think other people know now that I am never beat. That is worth a frame itself sometimes.
“I want to win as many different tournaments as I can. The Welsh Open is the only Home Nations event I haven’t won. Then the World Championship. Those are the two that stand out for me that are missing on my CV.”
Zhou said: “Of course it will give me confidence. Mark was very good in the first session. He was 6-2 up and I think I just wanted to give him some trouble this evening. I’m very happy I managed to get 8-7 up. It is a good experience and I will learn from it.”
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In a week of fightback victories for Allen, the shoe was on the other foot this evening. The Northern Irishman led 7-3, before being pegged back to trail 8-7. However, he showed his typical tenacity and grit to claim the final two frames and emerge victorious.
Allen’s heroics in previous rounds saw him defeat Ding Junhui 4-3 from 3-0 down in the last 16, Elliot Slessor 5-4 from 4-0 down in the quarters and Jak Jones 6-5 from 5-3 down in the semis.
It’s the 12th ranking event victory in Allen’s career, in what was his 20th appearance in a ranking final. He now draws level with Shaun Murphy in 10th position on the all-time event winner’s list.
The Pistol had failed to register since the 2024 Players Championship last February. That saw him slip down the Johnstone’s Paint World Rankings to tenth spot, having briefly occupied the summit last year. However, the £100,000 top prize now moves him up to seventh position.
It immediately puts Allen top of the BetVictor Home Nations Bonus standings. Whoever accumulates the most prize money across the four events will scoop a bumper £150,000 payout.
Defeat will come as a bitter pill to swallow for Zhou, after his huge efforts to regain the lead this evening. The Chinese cueman will have to wait for that elusive first ranking crown.
Zhou has now lost all four of his ranking final appearances, having suffered previous defeats at the 2020 European Masters and the 2020 Shoot Out. He was also runner-up to Allen at the 2023 Northern Ireland Open.
The first session ended with Allen holding a hefty 6-2 cushion. When play got underway in the evening, it was clear both players realised the importance of a strong start. A cagey 45-minute opener eventually went the way of Zhou, who reduced his arrears.
Allen then extended his advantage, but consecutive frames from Zhou ensured he trailed by just two frames at 7-5 heading into the mid-session interval.
When they returned Allen looked set to be moving one frame for victory before missing a red to the left middle on 60. Zhou stepped up with a gutsy 72 to steal on the black and make it 7-6.
Breaks of 60 and 53 then helped Zhou make it five on the bounce and move one away from a momentous victory at 8-7.
A remarkable 16th frame looked to be going to Allen when he compiled a run of 71, but an in off gave Zhou an opportunity. He got the required foul points to stand a chance of winning on the green, but Allen eventually forced a decider.
It was Allen who fired in a crucial break of 61 and he emerged victorious. Following final frame wins for Neil Robertson at the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters and Xiao Guodong at the Wuhan Open, it is the first time ever that three consecutive ranking events have come down to deciders.
“It means a lot. To win any tournament these days is good. To do it the way I’ve done this week too, coming from behind a lot,” said 39-year-old Allen.
“I was absolutely shattered. I think adrenaline got me through that first session and tonight I was really tired. It is no excuse for some of the balls I missed, but I was feeling it. At 8-7 I felt something and realised it was my chance to find a bit of form. I’m going to sleep well tonight.
“I think the least you can ask for from any player is application. So many guys would have given up in some of the positions I was in this week. I think other people know now that I am never beat. That is worth a frame itself sometimes.
“I want to win as many different tournaments as I can. The Welsh Open is the only Home Nations event I haven’t won. Then the World Championship. Those are the two that stand out for me that are missing on my CV.”
Zhou said: “Of course it will give me confidence. Mark was very good in the first session. He was 6-2 up and I think I just wanted to give him some trouble this evening. I’m very happy I managed to get 8-7 up. It is a good experience and I will learn from it.”
The post Allen Captures 12th Ranking Crown appeared first on WPBSA.
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