The Antrim man had not played since an agonising World Championship semi-final loss due to personal reasons

Mark Allen admitted his snooker career may be coming to an end after being beaten on his comeback.

Allen went down 4-2 to good friend Jordan Brown in the Northern Ireland Open in his first match since the World Championship.

Allen had suffered a painful semi-final defeat to Wu Yize at the Crucible, where he missed a routine black which would have seen him through to the final.

He had not played since that agonising loss due to personal reasons before his return yesterday, but admitted he may never play again.

“I’m in a bad place at the minute,” former world No1 Allen said. “Even to go out there and try was tough.

“I think if I wasn’t playing Jordan I wouldn’t have come back. I felt if I was going to play one last time, playing here at the Waterfront where it all started in 2005, against one of my best mates I thought that was a better way to sign out.”

And when pushed on if he was really considering ending his career, an emotional Allen added: “Yeah. I’ve been flooded with support but the problems are within.

“I just don’t see a future with snooker, if I’m honest. It’s sad to say because it’s all I’ve loved to do since I was 12.

“The last few months have been really difficult and it’s sort of put snooker into perspective for me.

“At the minute I’m just trying to survive.”

Allen, 40, missed plenty of big events at the start of the season, including the Shanghai Masters, China Open, Wuhan Open, British Open and Shenzhen Open.

The Pistol also missed the English Open, where he would have been defending champion.

Allen won the first frame against Brown, before being pegged back. From 2-2, Brown won the next two to secure his spot in the next round.

Brown said: “That was easily the hardest match I’ve ever had to deal with.

“There’s more to life than snooker. We’re all behind him. It’s hard seeing him like that.

“I’ve missed Mark. I love him. He’s just a great guy through and through.”