Mark Allen is in the form of his life – but admits sorting out his turbulent private life has been the biggest success of the past 12 months.
The 36-year-old from Northern Ireland heads into 2023 having recently won the UK Championship, as well as defending his home title in Belfast.
And that represents a huge turnaround in the world No5’s snooker fortunes after contemplating quitting just over a year ago.
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Allen was consumed by courtroom battles over his bankruptcy, divorce and access to daughter Harleigh, and child support for separate former partner and 12-times women’s world champion Reanne Evans.
That last issue is still to be fully resolved, but having shed the burden of the other pressing concerns as well as six stones in weight, Allen feels like a new man.
He said: “Reflecting on the past year, two things stand out for me. The most important one was getting consistent access to my daughter Harleigh.
“As much as my ex-wife was good for the most past there were a couple of issues here and there – there always are.
“So to get that rubber-stamped in court and get consistent contact was massive for me and that came back in January the day I played Judd Trump at the Masters.
“I made mistakes in the past when it came to Lauren [daughter with Evans], I have a terrible relationship with her and knew I wasn’t going to make the same mistake with Harleigh.
“I fought tooth and nail to get what I wanted in court and we are all in a good place with it.
“And the other thing was getting my bankruptcy sorted, getting an IVA in place for my creditors and be able to move on. There are restrictions going forward, but I am happy with them.
“But I could play snooker again without the fear of worrying if I could continue my career because there was a dark period when I wasn’t sure if that was possible.
“Even after a few months that have seen me win two of the biggest titles of my life, those are the biggest things that stand out.
“But it has been a huge 12 months for me in so many ways. Getting stuff in my private life sorted early on in the year was big and as the year progressed things have got closer to resolution.
“And that has then helped me on the table without the same distractions. I haven’t had the emails coming in from lawyers and with court dates.
“So that has helped me focus on snooker which is what I want to do. I am in a good place in my private life and engaged to be married again next year…a glutton for punishment!
“Things are going really well. I have a good circle around me that support me through thick and thin, and I am just really enjoying the game and the battle each match brings.
“There are still one or two things ongoing that I can’t say everything about and you genuinely wouldn’t believe some of what has happened in the last two years.
“it takes a certain sort of character to be able to get through it with those closest to me and still keep performing well.
“There were days when I didn’t want to practice or go to tournaments but still got to the latter stages of events.
“It is just so much easier in any walk of life in your job if your private life is good and you don’t have distractions.
“The weight loss has been mentioned a lot and that has helped, no question. But getting much of the off table stuff sorted has been the biggest single factor.”
And Allen also feels his consistency and success this season – that also saw him reach the final of the British Open – may be getting into his opponents’ heads.
He added: “Possibly other top players are starting to look at me slightly differently. I have played so many of them over the years knowing that if they get a chance to win, they will do it.
“And with the run I have been on, the matches and tournaments I have been winning, that is somewhere in the back of my opponents’ minds at the moment.
“That if I get a chance at the end and even if I am trailing, I will take it. They might be feeling I even before the end – that if this goes close, I can finish it. And that exerts a bit more pressure on them.”
*18+ | BeGambleAware
