Mark Allen wins World Snooker Grand Prix

Mark Allen cemented himself as the man of the season, winning his third ranking event of the 2022-23 calendar with a 10-9 win over Judd Trump in the World Grand Prix final. The Antrim man established a strong lead in the first session, but had to maintain his composure as Trump fought back to force a deciding frame.

The match began unusually scrappy, with both men battling to share the first four frames – the quality was surprisingly low, and Allen clearly had a gameplay to show down play as much as possible. It was impacting on Trump, and it had its desired effect, with Allen dominating the first session after the interval. He produced breaks of 58, 88, 63 and 77 on his way to winning the next four – Trump could do little but sit in his chair as his opponent took charge to lead 6-2.

But, come the evening, both players suddenly hit their strides. Allen won the first frame back, making an unanswered 88 to extend his lead to five, and things were looking done and dusted. At that point, Trump arrived, producing a 140 (the first century of the match) to share the high-break prize with Shaun Murphy and announce he wasn’t going down quietly. Allen had first opportunity in frame 11, but only made 30 before an awkward red to the yellow pocket refused to go. Trump then produced another century, this time 108, and he was suddenly three behind. The last frame of the interval would be important – after Trump missed a long pot, Allen made 141, surpassing his opponent’s high break and heading into the final break 8-4 ahead.

The finish line was in sight for Allen, but it was Trump who picked up the scoring on resumption. Breaks of 51 and 87 moved him within two, and then he went for a cagey long pot in frame 15 as his only out from a tough snooker – he got it, and went on to win the frame. It took a few visits, but a break of 58 soon levelled the scores – from 7-2 behind, it was now 8-8, and effectively a best-of-three for the title.

Allen claims both the £100,000 winner’s prize and an extra £10,000 for the highest break, and he rises to number three in the world rankings

Things got tense in the next frame, with Allen assembling a decent lead and then playing safe to leave his opponent needing a snooker. It came down to the colours, with Allen ruing every missed opportunity to put the frame to bed, but he eventually won after a snooker of his own saw Trump hit the black. Trump played aggressive safety in frame 18, and it worked – Allen missed a pot, and left his opponent a good chance on essentially an open table. He made 76, and it was deciding frame time.

Trump was in first, but he handed the initiative to Allen after running out of position. Allen made a red and black, but badly missed the next red. Trump had a good chance, and then left a red over the pocket for Allen. The Antrim man inexplicably missed, and must have thought it was match over – but Trump then missed a routine yellow. Allen found his composure, making a 52 break that secured the frame and won the match.

After the match, Allen said: “I don’t know about nerves because I was shaking like a shitting dog there! Judd had me completely gone. It’s not often I go I feel I’m pretty good under pressure.

“Some of the balls he potted were ridiculous at times. At 8-5, he potted one which most people would get one in a thousand but Judd seems to get them a lot. He put me under a lot of pressure so I absolutely fell over the line. It would have been heartbreaking 7-2 up [to lose] but Judd never gave up and looked so comfortable out there.

“Judd got on a run and he is hard to stop when he is like that. His safety improved as well. These things are never easy. Yes, it would have been nicer to finish it in one go in the last frame, but to get over the line after being so far ahead shows the strength in character that I’ve got.

“There were a number of times I thought I had him in all sorts of trouble and he won three frames from crazy reds. That puts you under pressure because your safety needs to be perfect. He has won everything the game has to offer so you are expecting that. It’s still not nice to have to put up with it though.”

As a result of the victory, Allen claims both the £100,000 winner’s prize and an extra £10,000 for the highest break, and he rises to number three in the world rankings, his highest-ever position.