Mark Allen demands change to Snooker Tour money rankings after English Open success

Former UK and Masters champion Allen pocketed £100,000 in Essex but is still well behind the money leader on Tour

Antrim snooker star Mark Allen took a potshot at the World Snooker Tour ranking system after winning the English Open. The former UK and Masters champion, 39, pocketed £100,000 after his late-night 9-8 victory over Zhou Yuelong in Brentwood, Essex.

Neil Robertson banked £500,000 for his success at the Saudi Arabia Masters earlier this season and is the runaway leader at the top of the one-year list based on cash earnings. A number of top players have called for a points-based system in recent seasons, with the current money-based list heavily weighted towards the World Championship and Saudi Arabia Masters.

And world No.7 Allen quipped: “I’m assuming with coming here and winning one more match than Neil won in Saudi and one frame less than he won that I’ll be pretty close to him on the one year list now?

“I think that says all you need to know about the world rankings and how they work. I could win one frame less and one match more and be £400,000 behind. Something definitely needs to change in that regard.”

Antrim ace Allen ended a 19-month wait for a 12th ranking crown, which puts him level with former world champion Shaun Murphy on the all-time list. And the Pistol, who won three titles in both the 2022/2023 season and 2023/24 campaign, is targeting another big showing this term after striking early.

“My best snooker is more than capable than mixing it with the likes of Judd [Trump] and Kyren [Wilson] 100 per cent,” added Allen. “They’re the two players who have regularly been winning tournaments in the past couple of years. The difference lately is the consistency hasn’t been there for me.

“I fancy myself whenever it gets down to the one table, no matter who I’m playing against. I feel like it brings the best out of me. This is what we play for. You want to play the best players on the biggest stages.”

There is a tight turnaround for the left-hander as he plays Jiang Jun in the first round of the British Open on Tuesday night.

“I’ll be getting as much rest as possible before playing in Cheltenham,” admitted Allen. “If I get through that first match I feel like I can be a big part of the tournament again.”