Mark Allen has won his tenth career ranking title, drawing him level with Jimmy White and making him the twelfth player in snooker history to reach double figures. Despite a slow start to the current season, Allen proved his class by winning the Champion of Champions crown and his first Shoot Out success in recent weeks. Known for his ability to stay calm under pressure and see shots quickly, Allen’s game is well-suited to the Shoot Out format, with all matches lasting a maximum of ten minutes. He was runner-up to Martin Gould in 2013 and now adds this title to his list of career victories. Allen was the highest-ranked player in the field and the first player in the 12-year history of the event to lift the trophy while positioned among the top 16.
The £50,000 top prize will boost him well inside the top 16 and move him into contention for the £150,000 BetVictor Series Bonus, albeit well behind leader Judd Trump with three of the eight counting events remaining.
