• Former world No 1 loses 4-2 to Jordan Brown in Belfast

• ‘I don’t see a future with snooker in it,’ says tearful Allen

Mark Allen said he was in a “bad place” and his snooker career could be over after losing to Jordan Brown in the first round of the Northern Ireland Open in Belfast.

The 40-year-old was playing his first match since his world championship semi-final loss to Wu Yize in April. Allen missed a match-ball black off the spot at 16-15 in front and went on to lose the deciding frame to Wu, who went on to win the title.

Allen has since stayed away from the tour due to personal issues that he has kept private – although they are understood not to relate directly to his Crucible defeat. After his 4-2 loss to Brown, a close friend who is also from Antrim, Allen indicated he is set to take another long break from the sport – and could make it permanent.

In an emotional interview with TNT Sports after the match, Allen said he was “really overwhelmed,” adding: “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,” the former world No 1 said. “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 if he was serious about his threat to retire from professional snooker, Allen confirmed his view and continued: “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 but the last few months has been really difficult and it’s put snooker into perspective for me. At the minute I’m just trying to survive.”

In a separate interview with BBC Sport NI, Allen said: “The last three months have been really, really difficult and I think even just being here today is an achievement. I am not going to announce [retirement] right now after a defeat, but it is something I have been contemplating for a while.”

Allen, currently ranked No 12 in the world after his hiatus, has won 12 ranking tournaments in his career, including the 2022 UK Championship and two Northern Ireland Open titles. He has reached the world championship semi-finals three times, and lifted the Masters trophy in 2018.

Brown, whose sole ranking title came at the 2021 Welsh Open, said: “First and foremost it’s just great to see Mark back playing. He obviously came through a tough time off the table and I’m with him every step of the way, like everybody is.

“We’re all behind him. I miss him and I love him and we all just want to see him healthy and well and playing the game that he loves so much,” Brown added. “He’s a great player and a great guy.”

Both the World Snooker Tour and the sport’s governing body, the WPBSA, have provided support to Allen and have indicated their desire to continue helping him in any way they can.

Allen is one of a number of high-profile players to exit this year’s Northern Ireland Open in the first round. Shaun Murphy was beaten 4-2 by Wales’ Liam Davies, with Mark Selby losing to Louis Heathcote by the same scoreline.

The world No 1, Zhao Xintong, also lost 4-2 to Chinese compatriot Gao Yang while Neil Robertson went down 4-1 to Ricky Walden. Ronnie O’Sullivan also fell at the first hurdle, beaten 4-3 by Cheung Ka Wai of Hong Kong. The defending champion, Jack Lisowski, did advance to the last 32 with a 4-1 win over Huang Jiahao.