Mark Allen produced a moment of magic on his way to a 147 break at the British Open, and it’s fair to say he caught the eye of the snooker fans with one particular make
Snooker star Mark Allen wowed fans with a flawless double plant on the way to his fourth career 147 at the British Open.
In a week that saw the Northern Irishman rip into the quality of the tables in Cheltenham, Allen stormed into the quarter-finals in style. After dispatching Gary Wilson and Aaron Hill, the 38-year-old faced Belgian teenager Ben Mertens – who only turned professional in 2022 after a stellar amateur career – and looked to have brushed off any past criticisms.
Allen narrowly clinched the first frame in the last 32 tie, but it was in the second that he truly shone, pulling off what many are calling the shot of the season. Faced with a tricky situation with reds clustered together, Allen executed a breathtaking double plant, sinking his desired red into a middle pocket and keeping the break going, reports the Express.
Riding this wave, Allen continued to clear the table, sinking the final black into the top right pocket and securing a 2-0 lead – marking the fourth maximum break of his career.
Fans were left astounded, flocking to social media to express their admiration, with one fan admitting: “It has taken me about 25 views to work out exactly what how he did it. Incredible shot given the frame was still live.” Another fan chimed in: “Probably the best shot in a 147 ever and there’s quite a few up against it but taking into account the fact the frame was still up for grabs! “
Mertens managed to win the next frame, but Allen quickly regained control, winning the next two frames and securing a 4-1 victory, progressing in the tournament and winning over a stunned crowd. Allen continued into the round of 16, narrowly defeating Chris Wakelin and setting up a quarter-final match with Judd Trump, who has started the new season on a high.
It’s been an eventful week for Allen in Cheltenham to say the least, having previously criticised the event’s snooker tables following his win over Wilson.
In a heated interview with ITV, he said: “The conditions out there are absolutely embarrassing. It’s some of the worst weather outside and they’ve left the massive transport doors open. It’s so cold, it’s so humid, out there.
It wasn’t just the weather that drew his ire. “The table needs to be burned,” Allen added. “The cushions are unplayable, uncontrollable. It was heavy. The speed was decent. There are new guys doing the tables this year and they’re clearly not up to it. I pride myself on preparing properly for tournaments with good conditions and you turn up and you don’t get them. It’s not good enough.”
A spokesperson for the WST responded, however, stating: “Our table-fitting team has been consistent for some time and works to the highest standards.
“The weather in the area has seen unprecedented rainfall over the last couple of days which can negatively influence the conditions. We have raised the issue of an open door with the venue.”
Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
