Mark Allen has hit back at criticism of his slow play at snooker’s UK Championship.
The Northern Irishman’s feud with BBC pundit, and former world champion, Shaun Murphy escalated in York – after a gruelling five-hour 6-5 semi-final midnight marathon defeat to Barry Hawkins where the world number three’s average shot time was an uncharacteristic 31.5 seconds in what became an extremely fragmented encounter. But following criticism from Murphy, a pundit on the BBC’s coverage alongside Scottish great Stephen Hendry, Allen said that he could “understand why Shaun loses so many matches that he should win.”
And when questioned about his style of play at the York Barbican following his 56-0 success against Ross Muir in the opening game of the Snooker Shootout, Allen fired back a typically bullish response. Eurosport presenter Rachel Casey said: “You had a marathon match with Barry Hawkins at the UK Championship, I know that your shot time was on the high side for you. But there’s no pressure on you, right?”
Responding, Allen said: “Even that shot time means nothing to me because I try my best. I’ll never, ever apologise for giving 100 percent, if that’s 32 seconds on one day or 22 on another day, I don’t actually care.” To which Casey said: “You’re a shootout winner, you can play very fast, you can play really good stuff.”
Allen also said he didn’t feel the Shootout, played to a unique fast-paced ruleset, should be a ranking event – adding: ” I still don’t think this should be a ranking event, but it is what it is. I still come here and try to enjoy it. I love the event, it changed my season last year. It can make or break a lot of season – but it’s just a lottery.”
Defending his style of play after the semi-final defeat to Hawkins, Allen said: “I didn’t go into that match trying to slow it down, absolutely not. I try and pot every ball I see and clear the table every chance I get.”