Mark Allen Withdraws From Shenzhen Open, Extending Absence to Six Ranking Events

Allen Sits Out Another Ranking Event

Mark Allen has withdrawn from the Shenzhen Open for personal reasons, further extending what is now a substantial absence from professional snooker. The event, scheduled to run from 28 September to 4 October in China, would have seen the Northern Ireland man face Belgian youngster Ben Mertens on the opening day. World Snooker Tour has confirmed the withdrawal, adding another entry to an increasingly lengthy list of missed tournaments for the world number 13.

A Season Largely Spent Away From the Table

Allen's last competitive appearance came at the World Championship in Sheffield, where he fell to eventual champion Wu Yize at the semi-final stage in early May — a result that, in hindsight, marked the beginning of an extended hiatus from the professional circuit. In the months since, the 40-year-old has sat out a significant volume of tournament snooker. He did not compete in the Championship League, the China Open, the Wuhan Open, or the Shanghai Masters — the latter a non-ranking event — before the new season got underway. When the 2024–25 campaign began, Allen was absent from the British Open, the English Open, and has now also missed the International Championship qualifiers, with World Snooker Tour confirming that withdrawal last week.

In total, Allen has now missed five ranking events on the season's early schedule, with the Shenzhen Open set to become the sixth. For a player who reached a career-high ranking of world number four and has accumulated over £3 million in career prize money (per CueTracker), this prolonged spell on the sidelines represents a notable interruption to what has generally been a consistent presence at the top tier of the sport.

Context: Allen's Record and Standing

To appreciate the significance of this absence, it is worth considering Allen's recent competitive record. The Antrim-born potter won the Players Championship in 2023 and has been a fixture in the latter stages of major events throughout his career, having reached the World Championship semi-final as recently as this past spring. His current world ranking of 13 reflects sustained performance over several seasons, though an extended run of non-participation will inevitably begin to affect his ranking points tally as the season progresses, depending on which events carry points he previously accumulated.

Under the rolling two-year ranking system used by World Snooker Tour, points are retained for two seasons before dropping off. Allen's absence from early-season events means he is currently foregoing the opportunity to accumulate fresh points during this window — a consideration that will become increasingly relevant if his return to competition is delayed further.

Northern Ireland Open the Next Target

According to current scheduling information, Allen's next planned competitive outing is the Northern Ireland Open in Belfast, which runs from 18 to 25 October. The home event — part of the Home Nations series and carrying full ranking points — would represent his first professional match since the Crucible in May, a gap of approximately five and a half months by the time the tournament concludes.

The Northern Ireland Open carries particular significance for Allen beyond the obvious hometown connection. The event is one of the more prestigious entries on the Home Nations calendar, and Allen has spoken in the past about the importance of performing well in front of a Belfast crowd. Whether he will be match-sharp after such a lengthy layoff remains to be seen, though the intervening weeks between now and mid-October would theoretically allow for practice preparation.

Personal Reasons Cited

World Snooker Tour and Allen himself have cited personal reasons for the various withdrawals, and it would be inappropriate to speculate beyond what has been confirmed publicly. The snooker community has grown increasingly open in recent years about the mental health pressures that accompany life on the professional tour — a gruelling circuit that spans multiple continents and demands near-constant travel across the calendar year. Allen has previously spoken candidly about the challenges of professional sport, and that context is worth bearing in mind when assessing his current absence.

For now, the Northern Ireland Open in Belfast stands as the marker to watch. If Allen does return to the table in October, the focus will quickly shift to how he performs after what will be an unusually long break from match play — and whether the remainder of the 2024–25 season sees him re-establish himself among the circuit's leading performers.