Northern Ireland Open: 'Higgins or Taylor never made 147 on home soil' – Mark Allen proud of Belfast maximum

ByEurosport

Updated 13/10/2021 at 17:03 GMT

Mark Allen made the 170th 147 break in snooker history during a 4-1 win over Si Jiahui in the first round of the Northern Ireland Open in Belfast. Allen admitted he was thrilled to become the first Northern Irish snooker icon to make a maximum in front of his home fans. "To do it here means so much to me," said the former Masters champion.

Watch clearance from ‘toughest yellow since Thorburn in ‘83’ as Allen shows huge ‘bottle’ in 147 bid

Mark Allen was thrilled to succeed where fellow Northern Ireland snooker icons and former world champions Alex Higgins and Dennis Taylor failed by making a competitive 147 break in front of a raucous home crowd.

The former Masters champion began his quest for title glory at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast on Sunday by making the second maximum of his professional career in a 4-1 win over Si Jiahui in the first round.

Northern Ireland Open

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23/10/2022 at 20:53

Allen will face Peter Devlin in the last 64 of his home tournament, but admits winning the event may not match the buzz he got from making the total clearance.

“To do it here means so much to me, to give fans that buzz. It’s a memory I will hold for long time. I potted a good yellow, then a horrible brown. I couldn’t stop shaking on black, I just had to let arm go though and luckily it went in," said Antrim professional Allen, who also contributed knocks of 76 and 50.

“I have made around eight or nine hundred maximums in practice. But it’s very nerve-racking to do it in a big arena.

'What bottle!' - Watch every shot as Allen makes ‘wonderful’ 147

"I wanted to do it for the fans because I have given them nothing to cheer for in the past in this tournament. I don’t think Alex Higgins or Dennis Taylor ever made a 147 here so it’s great to be the only Northern Irish player to do so.

“I was relaxed as ever pre-match. I played well and my safety was good. Even without the 147 I was happy with my performance. I have a target on my back every year here, whoever I play has the chance to knock out the home favourite.”

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Northern Ireland Open