Allen crashes out of UK Championship after surprising 'bad day at the office'

JUST a few short days after battering in a string of maximum breaks at Antrim Sports Club in a fundraiser for old pal Tyler McDonnell, snooker ace Mark Allen suffered a shock early departure from the UK Championships.

Allen limped to a 6-1 defeat to World number 52 Scott Donaldson.

And it was an emotional evening for Donaldson, who lost his father Hector back in October.

There were tears in his eyes as he entered the arena to the song ‘Babylon’ by David Gray, which had been played at his dad’s funeral.

“With what I have been through, I can tell you what’s important and what’s not important,” he said.

“When the pressure is coming on, I just tell myself ‘it’s a game of snooker’ and get on with it.

“I was fine until I got to the top of the stairs - and the last time I was in this venue was with my dad. It was good emotion though.

“Tough to go through but once I got the first frame, after that I was all right.”

And he continued to pile on the pressure on the World number 8, who won the tournament back in 2022, edging into a 3-0 lead.

Allen pulled one back, hinting at one of his trademark fight-backs - but it wasn’t to be.

In an encounter full of long, tough frames, one of which lasted an hour, Donaldson kept nudging closer to victory, before sealing a career-best success.

And Mark was certainly magnanimous in defeat.

“It took a big character to continue playing and all credit to Scott with everything he has been through,” said the Antrim man.

“It looked like he was giving everything on every shot.”

The 39-year-old conceded, however, that he was ‘disappointed’ at his shock exit.

“I didn’t really see that performance coming,” he said.

“I prepared well for the tournament, but I was just completely outplayed and 6-1 was not a flattering score.

“I felt pretty good going out there, but the balls were not doing what was being asked of them.

“I was really looking forward to the tournament.

“I’ve got good memories of York but everything I’ve been good at over the last few years just didn’t happen.

“No complaints, just a bad day at the office.”