Mark Allen Extends Snooker Absence After Missing Multiple Ranking Tournaments
Snooker professional Mark Allen has extended his ongoing absence from the World Snooker Tour for personal reasons, missing the first five ranking events of the 2026/27 season, according to bbc.com. The Northern Ireland player has not played a competitive match since losing a 17-16 semi-final to Wu Yize at the World Championship in Sheffield at the start of May. Despite the prolonged break, the 40-year-old remains comfortably inside the top 16 of the official rankings in 12th place with £536,050 in prize money.
The World Snooker Tour confirmed that Allen’s continued withdrawal applies to the forthcoming British Open and English Open tournaments, bbc.com reported. snookerhq.com noted that Allen also pulled out of the International Championship qualifying round, alongside earlier absences from the Championship League, Shanghai Masters, China Open, and Wuhan Open. As the reigning English Open champion, Allen will not defend the title he captured at Brentwood last year.
Allen withdraws from several snooker tournaments
Allen’s tournament withdrawals began following his dramatic exit at the Crucible, where he missed a straight black off its spot in the penultimate frame against Wu Yize, who went on to claim the world title, snookerhq.com reported. The Antrim man was scheduled to face Wang Xinbo in the British Open and Sam Craigie in the English Open, according to bbc.com. snookerhq.com added that Duane Jones replaced Allen in the International Championship qualifying draw ahead of the matches scheduled for September 17-19.
The World Snooker Tour stated last month that it was in contact with Allen and his representatives regarding his personal leave, sportbible.com reported. Allen addressed his earlier absences from the China Open and Wuhan Open in August through a statement issued to fans and promoters, expressing regret over missing the events in Taiyuan and Wuhan while confirming his desire to return to competition in China later in the season.
Jordan Brown Shares Friend Update And Ranking Status
Close friend and fellow Northern Irish professional Jordan Brown stated that Allen is "doing okay" while handling personal matters, sportbible.com reported. Speaking to Metro, Brown admitted he worries about his compatriot as one of his best friends and acknowledged uncertainty over whether Allen will compete against him at the upcoming Northern Ireland Open on October 20.
“All I do know is he is doing okay,” Brown told Metro, as cited by sportbible.com. “I’ve been checking in on him. I honestly don’t know if he’s going to play or not at the Northern Ireland Open.” Brown added that if Allen does not play, he will receive a walkover into the next round, though he noted that everyone on the tour simply wants to see the former Masters and UK Championship winner back playing the game.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mark Allen
Why is Mark Allen absent from the World Snooker Tour?
The World Snooker Tour has confirmed that Mark Allen’s absence from competitive snooker is due to personal reasons, according to bbc.com. He has not played since his World Championship semi-final defeat against Wu Yize in May.
Which tournaments has Mark Allen missed during the 2026/27 season?
According to snookerhq.com, Allen has withdrawn from the Championship League, Shanghai Masters, China Open, Wuhan Open, British Open, English Open, and the International Championship qualifying rounds.
Where does Mark Allen currently rank in professional snooker?
Despite missing the opening months of the season, Allen occupies 12th place in the World Snooker Tour rankings with £536,050 in prize money collected over the rolling two-year period, as reported by sportbible.com.
When is Mark Allen scheduled to play next?
Allen is currently listed to compete against Jordan Brown at the Northern Ireland Open scheduled for October 20, though his participation remains unconfirmed by his camp, according to sportbible.com.
Related reading