mark Allen claims English Open Title in Thrilling Decider
Home favorite Mark Allen secured his seventh career ranking title, triumphing over Zhou Yuelong 9-8 in a captivating final at the 2023 Betfred English open in Brentwood, Essex. The victory marks Allen’s first ranking title since the 2022 Champion of Champions adn solidifies his position among snooker’s elite.
The grueling tournament saw several upsets and featured a compelling run to the final for both players.Allen, seeded sixth, navigated a challenging draw, overcoming Ding Junhui and elliot Slessor en route to the title match.Zhou, unseeded, delivered notable performances, notably defeating Luca Brecel and Mark Selby, showcasing his potential on the world stage. The win is especially significant for Allen as he admitted to not playing his best throughout the week, relying on grit and determination to secure the trophy.
Allen acknowledged a less-than-stellar performance throughout the tournament,stating,”I didn’t play great all week,to be honest. I just managed to grind out results and get over the line.” He emphasized his satisfaction with the win despite the struggles, adding, “It’s just nice to get over the line, especially when you’re not at your best. It’s a good sign.”
The final itself was a tense affair, with both players trading frames and momentum shifting frequently.Zhou led at several points,but Allen demonstrated resilience,ultimately edging out his opponent in a dramatic final frame. The victory earns Allen £75,000 and 400 ranking points.
Earlier in the tournament, the Round of 32 saw notable results including Jackson Page defeating Neil Robertson 4-1 and Shaun Murphy overcoming Fan Zhengyi 4-1. The Round of 16 witnessed upsets as Judd Trump fell to Elliot Slessor 4-3 and Ricky Walden lost to Jak Jones 4-3. The Quarter-Finals delivered further excitement with close matches culminating in victories for Mark Selby, Zhou Yuelong, Mark Allen, and Jak Jones. The Semi-Finals then saw Zhou Yuelong defeat Mark Selby 6-3 and Mark Allen overcome Jak Jones 6-5 to set up the final showdown.
