Players Championship: Mark Allen concedes to playing ‘progressively worse’ following ‘fortunate’ title success
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Published 26/02/2024 at 11:24 GMT
Mark Allen does not feel he was at his best despite dispatching Zhang Anda 10-8 in a long, tactical Players Championship final in Telford on Sunday. The Pistol believes he played "progressively worse" as the week went on, but he capped off the tournament with an 11th-career ranking title. "I was fortunate that Zhang didn’t play as well as he has done," Allen admitted.
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Mark Allen admitted to playing “progressively worse” throughout his triumphant Players Championship campaign.
The Northern Irish star defeated Zhang Anda 10-8 in a mammoth final on Sunday in Telford, after recovering from an early three-frame deficit.
Despite the hard-earned victory, Allen conceded to being “fortunate” to go on to lift his third overall title of the season.
“I’m not quite sure how I won that this week,” Allen admitted. “I started off really well against Williams and just got progressively worse.
“I hung in there, played some good safety and potted some good balls when it mattered. I was fortunate that Zhang didn’t play as well as he has done, but I’m sitting here with the trophy and that’s all that matters.”
Allen has now won 11 career ranking titles, five of which have come since he won the Northern Ireland Open in 2021.
“This is what I’ve always wanted to do. Picking up one tournament every two or three seasons wasn’t where I wanted to be,” Allen added after claiming his latest silverware.
“I’ve made some changes off the table and they have stood me in good stead. I always wanted to be a consistent winner.”
Allen wrapped up Sunday's tactical battle just before midnight, which Zhang controlled in the early stages before Allen fought back with some clinical snooker.
Zhang edged a brutal 11-frame encounter with Mark Selby to reach the final the day before, which Allen feels gave him the edge over the Chinese player.
“As the match went on he missed a few he hadn’t done and looked a little bit tired,” he said. “That is understandable.
“It was a late finish against Mark Selby last night. It takes everything out of you playing him. The way Zhang is playing, he is going to be about for a long time to come. He is a dangerous opponent.”
Victory for the now-two-time Players Champion guaranteed his qualification for the Tour Championship, as he shot from 12th to fourth behind Judd Trump, Ronnie O’Sullivan and Zhang on the one-year list.
“There are a big six or seven weeks to come,” Allen said. “If I can just find a bit more comfort in my technique I can be dangerous in these last few tournaments.
“Everyone knows that I can win without playing well. It would be nice to find some form.”
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