Mark Allen is delighted to be finally climbing up the snooker honours board – and chalking up a third ranking title of the season at the World Grand Prix will see him head to the Crucible in April as one of the favourites to lift a first world title.
The 36-year-old from Northern Ireland beat rival Judd Trump 10-9 in a dramatic thriller in Cheltenham on Sunday night to claim the £100,000 first prize and take his earnings to a very tidy £540,000 for the campaign to date.
Allen is up to a career-high ranking of world No3 – and has also joined John Parrott, Peter Ebdon and friend and rival Shaun Murphy on nine ranking titles in the all-time list, tied in 11th place. Another one would take him level with Jimmy White on 10.
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And Allen said: “Establishing a legacy and a CV – this is what I have wanted to do for a long time. Not just be a flash in the pan and win a title every two or three years - but to be a consistent winner.
“I think I have a few years left in me yet. That is nine ranking titles and a 17th tournament win as a professional in all. My goal was to win as many events as I was years as a pro.
“That is 17 in 18 years on tour now I think, so that’s not far off the target and if I can make that 25 in 25 years then I’ll be happy. It was a few years ago Judd started really piling on the titles, he won 11 in two seasons recently which were phenomenal numbers.
“I can’t get too carried away because that is ridiculous, it is only Hendry and a couple of others who won that many in a season. Judd has 23 now, which is a great return. For me, I just want to keep going.
“Everyone will now be looking at me going to Sheffield because I will almost certainly be the No1 on the one-year list.
“I feel like I have unfinished business there, I have a terrible record at the Crucible really. And if I can’t do well there this season then maybe I never will. I am full of confidence, three ranking titles, four finals and hopefully this is just the beginning.
“Financially it doesn’t make much difference to me now, because of mistakes in the past and the way things are now set up. And maybe that takes some pressure off too, I am not really playing for money. It is just about winning titles and being happy.
“Mentally I am in the best place I have ever been, and I have given myself the best chance for Sheffield.”
Meanwhile Allen has hit out at snooker legend Stephen Hendry for being sniffy about his latest success at the World Grand Prix.
The 36-year-old player of the season became just the 10th man to claim three ranking titles in a campaign with a dramatic 10-9 win against Judd Trump on Sunday, and achieved the success playing all week with a slower and more risk-averse approach.
But after adding another title in Cheltenham to wins at the UK Championship and Northern Ireland Open, Allen responded to Hendry’s take on the week.
Seven-time world champion Hendry, speaking after the final on ITV, acknowledged that “as long as you are holding that trophy, you are a worthy champion”.
Bu he also said Allen “was fortunate that Trump handed him a chance on a plate to get the job done”.
And following comments earlier in the week from the Scot about Allen’s slower pace of play and approach, the Scot said of his snooker that “some of it has not been pretty to watch, you have to say”.
Allen said: “It hasn’t been pretty at times this week - but I am sitting here with the trophy so it has all been worthwhile and I can take the criticism.
“I am a bit disappointed with some of the things he [Stephen] has said about my game this week. I don’t really know what people want from me.
“If I am not feeling good about my game, do they want me to keep going for those long ones, being stupidly aggressive, play fast and get beat? Because that is ultimately what would have happened.
“Me slowing myself down a little bit, turning a few down is what got me into the final. It is all about winning tournaments, and giving myself the best chance of winning.
“So it is strange criticism and disappointing from someone I look up to so much.”
