Riyadh Season Snooker Championship 2024: Mark Allen claims title as Luca Brecel beaten in final again
By Ben Southby
Updated 21/12/2024 at 08:33 GMT
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Mark Allen defeated Luca Brecel 5-1 to win the 2024 Riyadh Season Snooker Championship title for the first time and end his 10-month wait for a trophy. The Pistol, who beat seven-time world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan earlier in the day, drilled home two century breaks to beat his Belgian opponent. Once again, the elusive 167 break could not be achieved as the wait for the historic feat goes on.
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Video credit: TNT Sports
Mark Allen ended his 10-month wait for a title to claim the 2024 Riyadh Season Snooker Championship in Saudi Arabia, after beating Luca Brecel 5-1 in Friday's final.
The Northern Irishman earned the joint-highest payday of his professional career, scooping the ÂŁ250,000 jackpot while Brecel settled for the runners-up pot of ÂŁ125,000.
Allen said he was "relieved" to see the match out after a nervy final frame.
"I was very nervous on the last few balls," he said. "I felt good the whole game, but it was those last few balls I started feeling it a bit, so happy to get over the line.
"You're never there until you're there. Luca is such a talented player, he can reel off two, three, four frames in no time, so I was always on guard, always played the right shot and gave myself a few chances."
Allen looked to land a historic 167 break in his quarter-final victory over Mark Selby - and land the eye-watering $1 million prize - but broke down on 65.
"You come here to win the tournament," Allen said, reflecting on his earlier attempt.
"If I had made the 167 it would have been a massive bonus, but I'm not sure if I could have stood up if I got to the last few balls, because I was already really nervous on 65."
After overcoming defending champion Ronnie O'Sullivan in the semi-finals earlier in the day, Allen's impressive form continued into the showpiece event as he made two century breaks on his way to victory.
He crafted 104 in the second frame and 109 in the fourth, but the 167 break evaded him as it had done for every player for the second Riyadh Championship in succession.
It was Brecel who took the lead in the contest after nearly an hour.
The 2023 world champion built up a considerable advantage until Allen conjured up an early fightback to test his nerve, but the Belgian finally got over the line.
However, the momentum quickly shifted in Allen's favour, as he levelled matters to get on the board with his third century of the day.
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He moved well clear of Brecel over the next three frames as he raced to glory in Boulevard City, coming to within a frame of victory thanks to his second century of the match.
A long-winded sixth frame followed, but after having to come from behind, Allen claimed victory to win the second edition of the tournament.
Brecel, who also lost the event's inaugural final in March 2024 to O'Sullivan, beat Zhang Anda, world champion Kyren Wilson and Mark Williams on his way to Friday's showdown.
"It's been a good tournament for me, but in the final, Mark was so good," Brecel said.
"He's so good in safety battles, he makes it so tough. He played really well and he deserved to win. Overall, he played much better than me.
"I'm playing ok, today I didn't play so well but I've been feeling good lately and hopefully, it's going to be a good second part of the season."
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