UK Championship Mark Allen was left fuming after his approach was questioned by two of the biggest names in the game
Mark Allen was accused of hampering his own chances at the UK Championship before being knocked out in the semi-finals. The Northern Irishman made it to the last four of the 2024 tournament despite battling poor form and low confidence.
Throughout the gruelling encounter, which Barry Hawkins won 6-5 in the early hours of the morning, Allen’s slow play drew criticism from both six-time world champion Steve Davis and fellow professional Shaun Murphy in the BBC commentary booth.
Davis believed Allen’s style was ‘sabotaging’ his performance, while Murphy, who had been beaten by Hawkins in the quarter-finals, suggested the sluggish tempo was a calculated strategy.
Davis said: “It’s tough sometimes playing this game and it does feel like both players are dragging each other down a bit. And it’s just sometimes the balls go [Allen’s] way.
“But question marks on whether Mark Allen [is] slightly sabotaging his own ability by playing a little bit slowly, and maybe Barry Hawkins [is] trying to get free and get a bit of rhythm going.”
Murphy added: “It’s completely within the rules but at what stage do we question whether the amount of time Mark Allen is taking over simple decisions is a tactic to annoy his opponent? I can’t see any reason other than that for why he’s taking so long.”
Allen didn’t take kindly to Murphy’s comments, later retorting on social media: “He’s absolutely entitled to his opinion on things but perhaps best to leave personal feelings out of the commentary box in future. All because I called out some of his recent BS.”
It wasn’t the first time Allen had publicly criticised Murphy, who juggles BBC commentary duties with playing at Triple Crown events.
Despite that, they seemed to be on friendly terms at the Masters in January, with Allen graciously congratulating Murphy on making a 147 break against him. Murphy proceeded to win both the match and the tournament.
Both players were part of the line-up as the 2025 UK Championship kicked off on Saturday. English Open champion Allen begins his campaign on Monday night.
Judd Trump won last year’s tournament after beating Hawkins in the final. Eight-time champion Ronnie O’Sullivan, set to play on Tuesday, will make his first appearance in the UK this season, having only competed in the Middle East and China so far.
O’Sullivan, who has relocated to Dubai, has hinted he could miss the following Triple Event, the Masters, for a second successive year. He told Sportsboom: “Maybe next season I might play a few more [in the UK]. But this year, I just want to settle in Dubai and play as many tournaments in China and Saudi Arabia as I can.
“I’d love to play the UK Championship and the Tour Championship if I can. Probably just be two tournaments this year in the UK before the World Championship.”
