Mark Allen Clinches Riyadh Snooker Title with 5-1 Victory

Mark Allen secured his first title of the season by defeating Luca Brecel 5-1 in the final of the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship. The Northern Irishman had earlier overcome defending champion Ronnie O’Sullivan 4-2 in a competitive semi-final. Allen, who earned a £250,000 prize, admitted to feeling nervous as he closed out the final but was relieved to get over the line. He reflected on his consistent form throughout the week, saying, “I played some good stuff all week.”

In the final, Brecel, the 2022 World Champion, initially took the lead by winning the first frame. However, Allen quickly responded with a 104 clearance to level the match. He then dominated the rest of the contest, making a break of 109 to go 3-1 up and claiming the next two frames after the interval to seal the victory. Earlier, Allen faced a more challenging semi-final against O’Sullivan. The seven-time world champion took the first frame but Allen capitalized on O’Sullivan’s mistake in the second frame by missing a red.

This opened the door for Mark Allen, who took a 3-1 lead. O’Sullivan responded with a win in the fifth but Allen’s clearance in the sixth frame secured a 4-2 victory. Overall, it was a dominant performance from Allen, who had a standout tournament. His strong break-building and composure under pressure saw him claim the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship title and make a statement early in the season.