Mark Allen considers retirement after defeat to Jordan Brown in Belfast
Mark Allen says he is contemplating retirement from snooker after losing 4-2 to Jordan Brown in the first round of the Northern Ireland Open.
The defeat came at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast, where Allen won back-to-back titles in 2021 and 2022. It was his first match since losing to Wu Yize in the World Championship semi-finals in Sheffield in May, as reported by BBC Sport.
When asked if he was considering ending his career, Allen replied: "Yeah." He said retirement is something he has been thinking about for a while. He described the past period as really difficult in an emotional post-match interview.
Allen, 40, said something needs to change in the next six weeks before the UK Championship for him to show up there. The UK Championship in York is one of snooker's three Triple Crown events, alongside the World Championship and the Masters. He also said he probably would not have played this match had he not been drawn against Brown, his fellow County Antrim player.
The memory of May was still present. Allen missed a match-winning black in the penultimate frame against Wu, a ball that would have sent him into his first World Championship final. He arrived in Belfast having not played competitively for almost six months.
His record gives the words weight. Allen turned professional in 2005 and has won 12 ranking tournaments, the events that decide the world rankings. That haul includes the 2022 UK Championship. In Belfast he has often had the home crowd behind him, with those two titles at the Waterfront Hall.
Brown, 39, took his chance. Ranked world No 65, he earned his first win over Allen. He will play Michael Holt in the last 32. Brown called it the least satisfying win he has ever had, with Allen clearly struggling.
A year ago the story was different. Allen beat Brown 5-2 in the quarter-finals of the 2025 Northern Ireland Open in Belfast.
For fans, this means an uneasy wait. The UK Championship starts in late November, six weeks from the Belfast defeat. If Allen finds a reason to play, he returns as a former champion with nothing to prove. If not, a quiet first-round loss at home may mark the end.
