World Snooker Championship favourite downed three Magners in 15-minute interval before winning clash en route to title
SNOOKER star Mark Allen has revealed he once drank three ciders mid-match on his way to a final.
The 38-year-old was crowned champion at the 2018 Scottish Open following a 9-7 win over Shaun Murphy.
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However, the tournament was far from smooth sailing.
After beating Alfie Burden 5-0 in the quarter-finals, Allen faced Daniel Wells in the semis.
The Pistol went 4-0 down in the early stages of the match, but quickly turned things around after the interval – after having three bottles of booze.
At an exclusive event with SunSport readers, broadcaster Rob Walker spoke to Allen about his drinking habits.
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He said: “Mark, tell us about the night you drank shots late into the night with me, following your loss in the 2018 UK Championship final in York, and then won the Scottish Open the next week in Glasgow…”
The Pistol responded: “I was driven up the next day and I felt so bad.
“But then I started drinking again in the car. And I carried on drinking throughout the week. I was out each night.
“Only until I got to the semi-finals did I realise: I could win this! I started to be sensible but played awful in the semis.
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“I fell 4-0 down to Daniel Wells. I couldn’t get any vodka in the players’ lounge.
“I needed to a drink, just to see if I could turn this around.
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“I had three Magners ciders – which I don’t ever drink – in the 15-minute interval. And I won 6-5! Then I beat Shaun Murphy 9-7 in the final. Any kids out there – don’t do that!”
Just one week prior to his Scottish Open success, Allen narrowly missed out on the UK Championship title.
He suffered a 10-6 defeat to Ronnie O’Sullivan at the Barbican Centre in York.
Allen also opened up about the loneliness he regularly feels on the snooker circuit.
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He continued: “There’s a lot of loneliness. Living out of a suitcase isn’t ideal. You get home, put your clothes in the washing machine and then back out again the next day.
“You don’t get to see your family as much. I’ve a seven-year-old daughter. She understands a little bit more.
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“She’s starting to say: ‘Don’t go to this tournament, daddy.’ But the better I can do, the better her future will be. Judd [Trump] is young, free and single. Our priorities are different. But we still miss home.”
Allen is set to compete in the World Snooker Championship at the Crucible in Sheffield this week.
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