Ronnie O'Sullivan's previous World Snooker demand should be actioned after Mark Allen opened up about his struggles following his 4-2 defeat to Jordan Brown at the Northern Ireland Open.

Allen returned to action for the first time since his agonising defeat to Yu Wize at the World Snooker Championship semi-finals in April, having missed the entirety of the 2026/27 season due to personal reasons.

The 40-year-old gave an emotional interview to TNT Sports after his defeat to Brown, in which he bravely admitted he was in a "bad place" and could walk away from snooker permanently after a successful two decades as a professional.

Ronnie O'Sullivan wants World Snooker to hire full-time mental health professionals

Allen confirmed he would give himself six weeks to decide whether he will compete at the UK Championship in December, accepting that "something needs to change" during that period for him to show up.

The world number 12 revealed the depth of his struggles in a separate interview, confirming he suffered panic attacks on the morning of the match, as well as the night before, and almost physically couldn't enter the arena after months of mental health struggles left him "fortunate to be here".

"I'm actually proud of myself that I even walked out," he told ITV. "I was having panic attacks all morning and all last night. But I'd been considering walking away from the sport for a while, and I didn't want my last match to be that semi-final in Sheffield."

"So I thought it would be a better way to end knowing it would be in the Waterfront Hall, where it all started, against one of my best friends."

A long list of the world's biggest snooker stars have struggled with their mental health, none more so than Ronnie O'Sullivan, who has opened up about his lifelong battle with depression and anxiety.

'The Rocket' has even previously suggested that World Snooker should have mental health professionals available, as they do in football and other sports.

"I think World Snooker should have someone like in football. In football they may have a masseuse sorting out injuries. In snooker, they should have someone at the tournament employed if someone is struggling," O'Sullivan said during Eurosport's coverage of the Masters in January 2025.

"For 10 minutes, if you need to come off the table and talk – I’m not saying everyone will go in there because a lot of players suffer in silence. I can tell. You just look at them and know they’re struggling.

"But they should have someone to go to and talk to. I think that’s so important.

"You have coaches sorting your cue action out, but really you need someone to just [help] unload a bit. I think it would really help the players.

"I know Shaun Murphy is part of the panel. I think they could find the money to employ someone full-time to be there for the players.

"If Mark Selby is struggling mentally, and I struggle mentally and John Higgins struggles mentally, then the other 124 are a million per cent struggling mentally. But you’re not allowed to.

"People say, ‘what’s the matter, you’re a snooker player, you’re getting paid this and that’. But it’s not about the money. It’s about pride in performance. You want to put a show on for the crowd. You want to put a show on for yourself. You want to play well and when you don’t, it can drive you crazy."

Ronnie O'Sullivan suffers embarrassing defeat to Cheung Ka Wai

O'Sullivan suffered one of the most embarrassing defeats of his snooker career after crashing out in the opening round of the Northern Ireland Open.

The seven-time world champion was stunned by world No 110 Cheung Ka Wai, who rattled off three frames in a row to clinch a 4-3 win.

That was O'Sullivan's first match in the UK since tasting a 13-12 second-round defeat to John Higgins at the World Championship in Sheffield in April.

A humiliating display in Belfast continues a worrying trend for the 50-year-old in 2026, who is in danger of dropping out of the world's top 16.

O'Sullivan is £99,350 ahead of world number 16 Ali Carter and £154,650 clear of Zhou Yuelong in 17th. Indeed, a significant run from his rivals puts him at risk of having to qualify for the World Championship in 2027.

But 'The Rocket' has already said he has no interest in competing in World Championship qualifying - held this year at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield - stating he would retire from snooker instead.