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Allen Stands Alone: Irish Hopes for UK Snooker Glory Rest on His Shoulders
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Published: November 15, 2023
York, England – Mark Allen is set to be the sole Irish representative at the prestigious Victorian Plumbing UK Snooker Championship, commencing at the Barbican in York this Saturday. The tournament will proceed without the support of his countrymen after a series of qualifying round defeats this week.
Irish Players Fall in Qualifying Rounds
Allen’s Antrim club-mates, Robbie McGuigan and Jordan Brown, both saw their campaigns end in qualifying round two on Monday.Cork’s Hill also suffered elimination,losing his first match in round three on Tuesday.
Jordan Brown’s grueling contest against 14-year-old Michal szubarczyk was a particularly long affair, stretching from Monday morning into the late evening. Ultimately, the young Polish player secured a 6-4 victory, needing just one frame to complete the win.
Despite the loss, Brown showcased his skill with the highest break of the match – a remarkable 135 total clearance in frame seven, demonstrating his continued form after reaching the quarter-finals of the recent BetVictor Northern Ireland Open.
However, Szubarczyk’s momentum was short-lived, as he fell to a 6-3 defeat against Noppon Saengkham in Tuesday’s third round.
McGuigan had previously enjoyed success,winning his opening match against Oliver Sykes on Sunday. He mounted a comeback from 4-2 down to level his match against Allan Taylor, but taylor ultimately prevailed with a 6-4 victory.
Hill, currently ranked 24th on the one-year ranking list, also faced a tough opponent in China’s Long Zehuang. zehuang dominated the match,securing a 6-1 win with extraordinary breaks of 4,78,57,53,and 51.
The UK Championship is one of the ‘triple Crown’ events, alongside the Masters and the World Championship, and holds immense prestige within the sport.
| Player | Rank |
|---|---|
| Hill | 24 |
| Mark Allen | (Rank not specified in source) |
Allen’s Path Forward
All eyes will now be on Mark Allen as he represents Ireland in the main stages of the UK Championship. He will be hoping to capitalize on the opportunity and deliver a strong performance at the Barbican.
