Snooker star Mark Allen has launched a furious response after being accused of 'sabotaging' his own game by two of the sport's most prominent figures during the UK Championship semi-final.
The Accusations Fly in Commentary Booth
The Northern Irish professional, who had been battling poor form throughout the tournament, saw his campaign end in a 6-5 defeat to Barry Hawkins in a gruelling encounter that finished in the early hours of the morning.
During the match, Allen's deliberate pace of play drew sharp criticism from the BBC commentary team. Six-time world champion Steve Davis suggested the player's style was actively harming his performance, stating he saw 'question marks on whether Mark Allen is slightly sabotaging his own ability by playing a little bit slowly.'
Fellow professional Shaun Murphy, who had been beaten by Hawkins in the quarter-finals, went a step further by implying the slow tempo was a tactical decision. Murphy commented, 'At what stage do we question whether the amount of time Mark Allen is taking over simple decisions is a tactic to annoy his opponent? I can't see any reason other than that for why he's taking so long.'
Allen's Heated Social Media Response
Allen did not take the comments lightly, particularly those from Murphy. The player later fired back on social media, making their ongoing personal differences clear.
'He's absolutely entitled to his opinion on things but perhaps best to leave personal feelings out of the commentary box in future,' Allen retorted. He added a pointed remark, stating this was happening 'All because I called out some of his recent BS.'
This public spat is not the first between the two snooker professionals. Despite appearing on friendly terms at the Masters in January, where Allen graciously congratulated Murphy on making a 147 break against him, underlying tensions have now resurfaced.
Tournament Context and Future Prospects
The controversy erupted as the 2025 UK Championship got underway. English Open champion Allen was one of the favourites for the title and begins his campaign on Monday night.
Meanwhile, eight-time champion Ronnie O'Sullivan is set to make his first appearance in the UK this season on Tuesday. O'Sullivan, who has relocated to Dubai, has hinted he might miss the subsequent Masters tournament for a second successive year, focusing instead on events in China and Saudi Arabia.
Judd Trump enters as the defending champion, having beaten Barry Hawkins in last year's final. As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on whether the fallout from this semi-final controversy affects the players' performances in the coming matches.
