TNT Sports snooker presenter Rachel Casey has spoken about the overwhelming response to her viral interview with Mark Allen

Presenter Rachel Casey says she has been left overwhelmed by the response to her viral interview with Mark Allen. The Irish broadcaster spoke to Allen following his departure from the Northern Ireland Open in his first competitive outing, in what proved to be an emotional and candid exchange.

Allen opened up about his struggle with depression and the challenges he confronts away from the snooker table. The 40-year-old had suffered a 4-2 defeat to close friend Jordan Brown, ending a poignant comeback in his first appearance of the 2026/27 season in Belfast, when he courageously discussed his difficulties, leading to the viral interview with Casey.

In the wake of the reaction on social media, which prompted widespread acclaim for both Allen and the interviewer, Casey said in a statement: "The response to my interview with Mark Allen has been overwhelming, and has brought a level of attention I neither sought nor expected.

"Last Tuesday I went to present snooker and interview the players for TNT Sports. I never imagined that one conversation would resonate with so many people in such a meaningful way. I'm so glad Mark is getting the support he needs and is doing well. Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to send me such kind messages.

"What has touched me most, is hearing from so many people who are facing their own struggles and who have told me that the interview meant something to them. If it has helped even a few people feel less alone, then that means more to me than I can say.

"To anyone out there who is struggling, please know that there is hope, and there can be a road back for you. Behind every athlete is a human being."

Allen hadn't competed since his World Championship defeat earlier this year, and his comeback at Belfast's Waterfront Hall drew considerable interest.

The 40-year-old's interview marked one of the first candid acknowledgements about the pressures of elite-level competition from an active player, with Allen subsequently revealing he had spent 10 weeks in a mental health facility before discharging himself to participate in the Northern Ireland Open.

He said: I'm just trying to survive. I see the light now that I couldn't see before but I do now," he wrote. "I also know it won't happen overnight. I'm a work in progress. "

Brown, whose Northern Ireland Open came to an end at the hands of Scott Donaldson in the quarter-final, was visibly upset during his interview with TNT Sports, which Carey also conducted.

The presenter reassured the victor that the win wasn't overshadowed by Allen but his opponent revealed that it was one of his toughest matches.

He said: "It just shows that there are more important things in life than snooker. That was easily the hardest match I've ever had to deal with.

I don't even know what to say - I'm lost for words. ". "You know, I've missed him. I love him.

He's just a great guy through and through. But as hard as it was, I still had to concentrate on what I had to do today.

That's what we're here to do, we're here to play snooker. ". "In a selfish way, I sort of had to block all the distractions out. I've got such great support, and I'm not going through the easiest of times myself.

I'm trying to fight tour survival and trying to get my game together. That's what I had to focus on today, as hard as it was.

But I never want to go through something like that again. ".