The Antrim man, 40, is working hard to get back on track, though he admits his snooker career is in serious doubt

Northern Ireland snooker star Mark Allen has offered an encouraging update on his wellbeing, after an emotional interview at the Northern Ireland Open where he said he was 'just trying to survive' right now.

The Antrim native, 40 , has spent the past 10 weeks receiving treatment at a mental health clinic after going through a difficult period, and Allen says he is now working hard to get his life back on track.

During the interview following a first round exit in Belfast to close pal Jordan Brown, Allen spoke candidly about his struggles and admitted he was struggling to picture himself continuing in professional snooker, prompting an overwhelming response from supporters.

The two-time Northern Ireland Open champion’s return to action came after a lengthy absence from the circuit. His last competitive appearance had been at the World Championship in April, where he suffered a painful semi-final defeat to eventual winner Wu Yize.

Allen had looked poised to reach the final after moving one frame away from victory at 16-15, but a simple missed black from its spot proved costly.

Allen has kept the reasons behind his extended break largely private, and his personal difficulties are understood to be separate from the disappointment of his Crucible defeat.

Following the reaction to his interview, Allen posted a message on social media on Wednesday to acknowledge the support he had received. He explained that, although he still has work to do, he is in a considerably better place mentally than he was in recent months.

His update offers a more hopeful picture of his current situation, although questions remain over when he might return to the table and whether he intends to continue his professional career.

Snooker success

It marks the latest chapter in a remarkable career for Allen, who reached the No.1 player in the world ranking and has won 12 ranking titles (including the 2022 UK Championship), two Triple Crown events (the 2018 Masters and 2022 UK Championship). 'The Pistol' has amassed over 700 century breaks and 5 maximum breaks

Allen’s talent was evident from an early age, when he dominated amateur competitions in Northern Ireland and went on to win both European and world amateur honours. By the time he entered the professional ranks at 19, he was already regarded as a player with huge potential.

Allen has always possessed a competitive streak and a willingness to fight when the stakes are high.

He has already collected an impressive array of trophies, yet the World Championship remains the obvious prize that could elevate his standing among snooker’s greats - should he recover to take part in the professional tour.

Growing up in Northern Ireland, Allen inherited a sporting landscape shaped by the achievements of Alex Higgins and Dennis Taylor. Both became world champions and helped establish the region’s reputation as a source of exceptional snooker talent. Allen has acknowledged their influence while making it clear that he wants his own achievements to define his place in the sport’s history.

There is also a broader personal dimension to his story. Allen has never been a particularly guarded public figure. His willingness to speak his mind has occasionally brought controversy, but it has also made him one of the sport’s more recognisable personalities.

Generosity

Away from the spotlight, he has demonstrated a generous side. During the pandemic, he helped deliver groceries to older residents in his community and developed a friendship with a pensioner who lived alone. Such gestures offer a glimpse of a man whose identity extends well beyond the intensity of professional competition.

Just last year, Allen organised a golf outing for charity, with 140 golfers and numerous local sponsors raising money through his charitable organisation, The Mark Allen Foundation.

Declaring bankruptcy

Despite his considerable career earnings, Allen filed for bankruptcy in January 2021, later blaming his financial woes on a lavish lifestyle. Speaking to the BBC about his "wrong moves" in October 2022, he revealed: "I just overspent in every aspect of my life.

"Bankruptcy was the only choice. It's easy to read that I made £3.5m on the table, but I spent it as fast as it was coming in. It was sad saying that, given what I've made in the game and how well I've done.

"It's embarrassing, but the priority now is to get my life in order. I didn't put any aside for a rainy day and if I was having a bad season, I was still spending as if I was having a good season."

Allen also took a significant financial hit following his divorce from his wife of seven years, Kyla McGuigan, with whom he shares a daughter, in 2020. He went on to say: "All the legal stuff with the divorce, if you have to pay for lawyers and barristers, it all mounts up.

"If I could go back, I would be more sensible with money. If there was a car available at £50,000, I bought one at £80,000. If there was a house available at £1,500 per month, I'd spend one at £2,500. Everything just snowballed."

By 2024, Allen had resolved his financial difficulties, telling SportsBoom: "Things are going really well. My private life is good, and financially, I'm in a better place than I was. Just even from a mental side of things, I'm just looking forward to playing more than I was.

"As much as I love the game, it was tough coming to the club [for practice] when everything was going on. I don't have that distraction anymore."

Five-stone weight loss

Amid his financial difficulties and the breakdown of his marriage, Allen embarked on a remarkable fitness journey that saw him shed an incredible five stone between the end of the 2021/22 season and the start of the following campaign.

While he believed the weight loss would benefit his snooker, he maintained that the lifestyle overhaul was primarily driven by a desire to improve his long-term health. He said: "I felt heavy, not healthy, when I was playing snooker.

"One of my friends said he worried about me getting too big, too unhealthy, and said if you keep going the way you are going, then you're not going to be able to walk your daughter down the aisle.

"Literally two days later, I started eating better and instantly changed everything. The first six to eight weeks were really hard as it involved a total change when it came to eating.

"There were times last year when, given my size, I was uncomfortable on some of my shots, I couldn't reach certain shots and, because I play at a fast pace, I could feel it on my breathing. It should help my game."

Frosty relationship with snooker player ex

Allen also had to navigate a turbulent relationship with fellow snooker professional Reanne Evans, with whom he shares a daughter, Lauren. The couple split back in 2008 before becoming embroiled in a lengthy dispute over child maintenance.

Speaking after claiming the UK Championship in 2022, he said: "Without going into all the details, the Reanne situation is still ongoing and I'd love nothing more than to get that sorted and then we could all move on.

"Because it isn't nice. You come to tournaments and we aren't even saying hello and we have a child together. As much as I don't see Lauren, I still think about her all the time. And it would be great that's sorted one way or the other."

During their disagreement, Allen and Evans faced the uncomfortable situation of being drawn against one another at the 2021 British Open. In uncomfortable scenes, Evans rejected Allen's offer of a pre-match fist bump.

Following the encounter, which Allen secured after a final-frame thriller, both players acknowledged how unpleasant the so-called 'Battle of the Exes' had been to participate in.

Latest partner

Having previously been engaged to Aideen Cassidy after his divorce, Allen was most recently in a relationship with Sara Herald. The pair got together in 2023.

Allen regularly shared pictures of himself with Herald on social media, including from a local sports awards ceremony in Northern Ireland in November 2023. The pair got engaged that year, with Herald sharing a romantic snap of the couple on Instagram.

She posted: "Does this ring make me look engaged? ? ? ? The easiest YES ever."

The couple eloped and officially tied the knot on June 25, 2025, at the famous A Little White Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas.