'He's got me in a really good place' - Mark Allen reaping benefits of work with mind coach
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Published 22/10/2022 at 22:39 GMT
Mark Allen is reaping the benefits from working with a mind coach as he prepares to defend his Northern Ireland Open title un Sunday's final. The Home Nations series is back with the Northern Ireland Open and it is live and exclusive on discovery+. You can also watch Seventh Heaven, a two-part show about Ronnie O’Sullivan’s historic World Championship win last season, on demand now.
Allen closes out win over Robertson in Northern Ireland Open on re-spotted black
Mark Allen has revealed that he has been benefiting from a mind coach as he prepares to defend his Northern Ireland Open title in Sunday’s final against Zhou Yuelong.
Having also shed five stone in four months, Allen appears to be in a good place currently and that is reflected in recent performances. Fresh from a memorable journey to the British Open final, Allen kept his defence of the NI Open title on track with a hugely impressive 6-2 victory over Neil Robertson in Saturday’s semi-final at the Waterfront, Belfast.
Jimmy White praised Allen for his dominant showing over Robertson, particularly his safety play, adding: “He [Allen] outplayed him in every department”.
A clearly delighted Allen told White, Rachel Casey and Ronnie O’Sullivan in the Eurosport studio afterwards: “I really enjoyed it. I didn't feel like I played my best stuff, but I did good things at the right time.
“I scrapped my way to being 2-1 in front and then found a bit of form and made two centuries for 4-1.
“When Neil was starting to come back at me, looked like it was going to be 4-3, I made a really good 60 when the balls were awkward to go 5-2. And then from 5-2, you just have to play sensible snooker, not miss anything easy. You know you’re going to get a chance to get over the line.”
There was high drama in front of a raucous crowd in Belfast as Allen forced a re-spot, playing a series of nerveless shots and eked out a chance, which he rolled into the yellow pocket to book his place in the final.
“To do it on a re-spot in front of the crazy fans here in Belfast was really nice,” Allen said.
“I would say I'll be noisier again tomorrow, but I love that. That’s what you live for. That’s why you play the game for, to play in these big arenas in front of packed houses. It’ll be an occasion to remember tomorrow.”
Allen has appeared totally focused all week and the 36-year-old puts this down to the work of his mind coach.
“I don't feel like I've played my best stuff this week, but what I have had is a really good attitude.
“Balls I have missed, I’ve forgot about straight away, and I've just looked forward to my next visit, no matter what the score is, or who I'm playing.
“I've been working with a mind coach the last few months and I feel like I'm in a really good place at the moment. We’ve been working together since then and we chat a lot, chat before every match or at least every other day. And he’s really got me in a good place.
“I've been working with a mind coach the last few months and I feel like I'm in a really good place at the moment. We’ve been working together since then and we chat a lot, chat before every match or at least every other day. And he’s really got me in a good place.
“I’ll speak to him tomorrow [Sunday] morning and I’ll probably speak to him again before tomorrow night’s session regardless of what the score is.”
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The Home Nations series is back with the Northern Ireland Open and it is live and exclusive on discovery+. You can also watch Seventh Heaven, a two-part show about Ronnie O’Sullivan’s historic World Championship win last season, on demand now.
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