Mark Allen discloses 10-week mental health clinic stay after snooker return

Mark Allen said on Wednesday, 21 October, that he had spent 10 weeks in a mental health clinic before returning to snooker at the Northern Ireland Open in Belfast. The Guardian, in a report credited to the Press Association, said the 40-year-old disclosed the stay after a first-round defeat that had prompted him to question his future in the sport.

In a statement posted on X, Allen said he had discharged himself so he could attempt to play. He said he wanted his family, particularly his daughter, to see him compete and also felt he owed a return to fans who had supported him through 21 years on tour. He said he would continue treatment and then decide what lay ahead.

What Allen said after his return in Belfast

Allen said his comments in that interview were true, but that he was doing his best to turn things around. ‘I see the light now that I couldn’t see before,’ he wrote, while describing his recovery as a work in progress. He said his daughter, therapists, clinic staff and fellow patients had helped him through difficult months.

He asked people not to let his disclosure detract from Brown’s win, saying Brown knew about his struggles before their match and had handled it with grace and skill. Allen also thanked World Snooker officials Simon Brownell and Neil Tomkins for staying in touch, saying Brownell had visited him in the clinic.

Allen’s career before the Northern Ireland Open

The new disclosure follows NewsJaws’ report on Allen’s retirement comments after Tuesday’s defeat. His previous tour appearance ended in a deciding-frame World Championship loss to eventual champion Wu, after Allen missed a black that would have won their semi-final. The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association lists Allen as a 12-time ranking event winner and the first player from Northern Ireland to reach world No 1.