Mark Allen vows to achieve childhood dream before ending golden snooker career after latest Crucible heartache - 'The ultimate goal'

React to this story

Jimmy 'Whirlwind' White, Ding Junhui and Paul Hunter are widely regarded as the greatest players in the history of snooker to never win the World Championship in Sheffield. But it would not be fraternising with hyperbole to throw Mark Allen into the mix alongside that golden trio, such is the Antrim man's lofty standing in the sport.

'Could not write a script like this' - Allen misses match-ball black and Wu pots it to stay alive

Video credit: TNT Sports

Allen is the only Northern Irishman to become the sport's world No. 1, and has also claimed the Masters and UK titles in a rousing 21-year career that has delivered another 11 major ranking crowns.

Yet, unlike his celebrated compatriots Alex 'Hurricane' Higgins and Dennis Taylor, Allen has yet to find the formula to conquer the Crucible, with even a final spot in the game's biggest title match proving elusive.

It is an ongoing source of frustration for Allen, 40, who missed a straight black off the spot in the penultimate frame of his agonising 17-16 semi-final defeat to Wu Yize in May.

Halo World Championship

Can Kane v Haaland's colossal World Cup showdown topple snooker's greatest final?

11/07/2026 at 14:39

Watching Lanzhou Lion Wu progress to edge out Shaun Murphy 18-17 in the final probably did not soothe his mindset when he reflected upon another near-miss.

"I want to be world champion," said Allen, speaking on a podcast to promote this year's Northern Ireland Open in Belfast, October 18-25, live on TNT Sports and HBO Max.

"That is the ultimate goal. If I do that, I'm not saying I'd stop or rest on my laurels. But I feel like my CV would be complete.

"That is the one tournament that as a kid growing up I wanted to do well in. I believe I will.

"I feel like I'm slowly getting closer. I was 17-15 in the semis against [Mark] Selby a few years ago, and I was 17-16 this year."

Allen revealed last month that he had no explanation for the "shocking" missed black that cost him a spot in the 50th world final at the Crucible.

A player dubbed 'The Pistol' somehow misfired in the big moment, jawing the black off the spot before Wu hit back from 47-0 behind in the decider to deny Allen a maiden appearance in the sport's title match with a match-clinching 71 break.

'One of the great matches ever played' - Wu beats Allen in epic

Video credit: TNT Sports

"I'm not going to avoid the obvious," the double Northern Ireland Open champion said, who is due to return to action at next month's China Open in Taiyuan, August 8-16.

"It was one that got away. I had a real chance to get to the final and I think I had a good chance in it. I was devastated with how that match went, but you need to be a good loser as well as a good winner. Wu Yize potted the balls at the right times and he deserved to be in that final.

"There is no point being a bad loser and two people made a great match. Yes, I missed an easy black to get to the world final, but it was a great match.

"Ultimately, there has to be a loser, and unfortunately it was me that day. But it didn't turn out that way."

'I just didn't handle the pressure' - Allen on missing match-ball in semi-final loss

Video credit: TNT Sports

The world No. 12 has suggested he will reflect on his career with a sense of disappointment if he fails to become world champion.

"There's probably only 10 players that have won more than me, but I'd still say it's very disappointing," he said. "With all great respect to the tournaments I've won, you want to be world champion.

"That's what you start playing the game for. As a 12-year-old boy starting out, I wanted to be world champion, you remember potting that long black to win the world championships.

"Yeah, that fire in my belly is still there. So I'd look back on it as a disappointment, but I'm sure that other people might say I did all right."

Add TNT Sports as a preferred source here to enjoy more content like this.

The streaming home for TNT Sports in the UK is HBO Max, where fans can enjoy a subscription that includes TNT Sports and entertainment in one destination

Halo World Championship

'Are they special?' - Hendry on big problem facing UK potters after Allen miss

06/07/2026 at 16:16

Halo World Championship

Is Kane's iconic World Cup celebration out of order on planet snooker?

29/06/2026 at 22:52