OFF THE MARK
‘I’m really struggling with myself if I’m honest’ – Snooker star makes worrying confession after world rankings drop
Allen has teamed up with a top snooker coach in a bid to improve performance
SNOOKER star Mark Allen has opened up about his drop in confidence after falling down the world rankings.
The former world No1 now finds himself fifth in the current WST standings.
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Allen has endured some difficult results this year, despite improving over the last few competitions.
Earlier this week he opened up about his slump in form, admitting the biggest struggle has been with himself.
Following his first round triumph over He Guoqiang at the Scottish Open, the Pistol told : "I'm really struggling with myself if I'm honest. I'm trying so hard but it's just not coming easy.
"I thought what I was trying wasn't working so I just swapped it mid match. I tried to speed up a little bit and went for my shots.
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"I finished that first match off well, but some of that was luck that I gave up the other thing that I'm working on.
"I just don't know what to trust. I'm seeing things which are unnatural and I'm not trusting my cue action because I feel like I'm on the wrong line. I'm fed up of playing like that if I'm honest."
The 38-year-old recently teamed up with Mark Williams' coach Lee Walker in a bid to improve his game.
He continued: "What me and Lee are working on will do me good in the long run.
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"But because I haven't had long spells to work on it on the practice table, I was working on it mid tournament at the UKs, the Shoot Out comes and you don't prepare properly there, it's still really new.
"It's a process, I know that. I'm just a bit lost. It's only a short time we've been doing it.
"That's the one downside with these tournaments coming thick and fast, you don't get the time to work on things.
"It's great when you're playing well and riding the crest of a wave, but not so much the other way.
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"It's my own fault for not doing better at the start of the season and being able to pick and choose a bit more."
Shaun Murphy criticised Allen last month for his slow play at the UK Championship in York.
He said: "Now, 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 think we are witnessing an extremely clever, well thought out match from Mark Allen to try and beat the man.
"It's an old school tactic. It's from a playbook my generation and Mark's generation are from. And it's perfectly within the rules.
"But I can't see any reason, other than that for why he's taking so long. As you look at Barry in his chair, you might say it was working."
Allen, who has exchanged verbals with Murphy in the past, responded: "Not to be in this years UK Championships. The better player on the day won.
"Good luck to both Judd and Barry in the final… For those criticising… I always give 100 per cent, it might not be pretty at times but I’m trying my best. Some other players could learn from it.
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"And as for Shaun in comms. 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."
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