Mark Allen was consoled by TNT Sports presenter Rachel Casey as he admitted his career could be over amid personal difficulties

World snooker star Mark Allen has left viewers concerned after revealing he is in a “bad place” and questioning whether he will ever play the sport again in a heartbreaking TV interview.

The emotional Northern Irishman made the admission after losing 4-2 to close friend Jordan Brown at the Northern Ireland Open in Belfast on Tuesday, in his first appearance since his heartbreaking World Championship semi-final defeat back in May.

Allen has since been missing from the sport due to personal reasons and is clearly suffering immensely.

Speaking to TNT Sports presenter Rachel Casey after the match, Allen struggled to hide how difficult the past few months have been, admitting today's match could have been his last.

“Not good if I'm honest, really overwhelmed,” Allen said when asked how he was feeling. “I'm in a bad place at the minute, so even just to go out there and try was tough.

“I think if I wasn't playing Jordan, I wouldn't have come back. I felt like 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.”

Asked by Casey whether he was genuinely thinking of walking away from the sport, Allen struggled as he replied: “Yes. I've been flooded with support, but the problems are within.

“I just don't see a future with snooker in it 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.”

A clearly emotional Casey supported the player by hugging him, telling him: "It’s so good to see you, and I know it’s so hard.

“You have so many friends and so many people there for you, and I really want you to know that. Everyone is behind you Mark, always. We wish you all the best.”

The 40-year-old's comments have prompted an outpouring of concern, with viewers reacting to the distressing interview and the prospect of one of snooker's biggest names stepping away from the game.

Viewers heartbroken

One viewer said: "Watching Mark Allen being so vulnerable on that interview there was such a hard watch. I'm sure he has but I really hope he has folk supporting him because you can see the pain oozing out of him."

Another added: "So sad to see Mark Allen like this. Wishing him all the best and hope he gets the support he very clearly needs."

Allen has endured a difficult period since his last appearance at the World Championship, where he suffered a devastating 17-16 defeat to Wu Yize in the semi-finals at the Crucible.

He subsequently withdrew from a number of tournaments this season, citing personal reasons, before deciding to return to action on home soil in Belfast.

But Tuesday's match proved an emotional occasion for both players, with Brown visibly affected by what his friend was going through.

“That was easily the hardest match I've ever had to deal with,” Brown said.

“It just shows there some more important things to life than snooker.

“Even though Mark is going through it, I feel like I'm going through it with him. We're all behind him, first and foremost. It's great to see Mark back playing.

“I'm trying to get myself together here, but it's hard. It's hard to see him like that. You could just tell he was anxious about today.

“I don't even know what to say, I'm lost for words. I've missed him, I love him, just a great guy through and through.”

Brown admitted he had struggled to deal with the emotional circumstances surrounding the match, while also having to concentrate on securing victory.

“But as hard as it was, I still had to concentrate on what I had to do today. In a selfish way, I had to block all the distractions out.

“I'm not going through the easiest of times myself. I'm trying to fight tour survival and trying to get my game together, and that's what I had to focus on today as hard as it was.

“I never want to go through something like that again.”

Allen has enjoyed a glittering career at the top of snooker, winning the Masters in 2018 and the UK Championship in 2022.

His most recent tournament victory came at last season's English Open in Brentwood, where he defeated Zhou Yuelong 9-8 in a thrilling final.