Mark Allen Considers Retirement After Northern Ireland Open Exit
BBC Sport NI journalist Jana McCabe reports on Mark Allen's emotional reflections following his first-round exit from the Northern Ireland Open.
Allen was beaten 4-2 by fellow Antrim man Jordan Brown in his first event since a heartbreaking semi-final loss at the World Championship in May.
"I think if I hadn't have been playing Jordan, I probably would not have played," Allen admitted. He felt compelled to show up, not just for Brown, but to put his difficult period behind him.
The 40-year-old former world number one reflected on a challenging year, including a missed match-winning shot in the World Championship semi-final.
"The last three months have been really, really difficult," he said. Despite today's loss, he emphasized that his decision to retire is not immediate.
"It is something I have been contemplating for a while and something needs to change within the next six weeks," Allen noted, adding that he will work hard in the coming weeks to determine his future.
Allen's thoughts turned to enjoying the experience of playing in his favorite arena and tournament, despite the outcome.