September 24th 2024.
Mark Allen had a rough start at the British Open on Monday, despite winning his first match against Gary Wilson. He was not pleased with the conditions at the venue and made his feelings known. Allen expressed his frustration with the state of the table and even went as far as saying it should be burned. This may seem extreme, but Allen was not happy with the way things were going.
Despite his win, Allen felt that the conditions were unacceptable. He had a tough opponent in Wilson, but managed to come out on top with a 4-3 victory. However, he couldn't help but criticize the organizers and table-fitters for leaving a door open, causing the weather to affect the game. He described it as "embarrassing" and mentioned that it was cold and humid on the playing field.
Allen was not the only one who noticed the unfavorable conditions. Wilson himself had a good laugh at the first break-off shot, as it reacted in a way that it shouldn't have. The cushions were unplayable and uncontrollable, making it difficult for the players to perform their best. Allen believed that the new table-fitters were not up to par and that the tables were just not good enough.
When asked if he would take his complaint through official channels, Allen revealed that he constantly complains at every tournament, but nothing ever changes. He fills out table and match report sheets, but to no avail. However, he did apologize to the interviewer, Rob Walker, for his outburst, although he remained firm in his criticism of the conditions.
After taking some time to calm down, Allen took to social media to apologize to Walker and clarify that his frustration was not directed at him, but rather at the conditions. He believed that they were not up to standard for the season. A spokesperson for the World Snooker Tour responded to the criticism, stating that their table-fitting team works to the highest standards, but that the recent heavy rainfall in the area may have negatively influenced the conditions. They have also addressed the issue of the open door with the venue.
Unfortunately, Allen was not the only big name to fall on the opening day of the British Open. Mark Williams, Ding Junhui, Ali Carter, Barry Hawkins, Tom Ford, and Rob Milkins were also defeated. The tournament continues on Tuesday at 10am.
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