English Open final recap - Mark Allen beats Zhou Yuelong in final-frame decider to take Steve Davis Trophy at Brentwood Centre

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Welcome to live coverage of the 2025 English Open final between Mark Allen and Zhou Yuelong on Sunday afternoon. Allen progressed into the final following a thrilling comeback 6-5 victory over Jak Jones, while Zhou stunned Mark Selby to book his spot in the final. Watch the final live and on demand on TNT Sports and discovery+.

‘Slow to start but boy what a finisher’ - Allen wraps up comeback win over Jones

Video credit: TNT Sports

Mark Allen survived a tremendous Zhou Yuelong fightback to win the English Open 9-8, his 12th ranking title; Zhou has now lost four ranking-title finals.

When Allen led 6-2 at the end of the first session, the match looked over as a contest. But Zhou improved through the evening session, a terrific dish in frame 13 drawing him to within a frame. Then, two more, making it five in a row, took him to one up with two to play. But with the title in jeopardy, Allen rediscovered himself, forcing a decider, his fifth of the week, and dominating it to take the trophy.

Mark Allen beats Zhou Yuelong 9-8 to win the 2025 English Open!

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A fifth decider-win in in a row, a 12th ranking title, and Mark wins a match he very nearly lost. Poor Zhou is feeling it, I'm afraid.

Allen 8-8 Zhou (69-0)

Mark can't get down a red to corner, so Zhou returns to the table needing three snookers. Good luck, old mate.

Allen 8-8 Zhou (61-0)

Mark is taking these superbly and he's nearly there. But looking to power in a blue to middle ... he hits the jaws! Goodness! He leaves a cut-back along the top rail – a nasty little so-and-so – but Zhou leaves it in the jaws, and I'm afraid he's done for. He's put so much into this match and his time will come, but it won't be tonight.

Allen 8-8 Zhou (33-0)

Again: Mark Allen has stones. You've got to feel for Zhou, though, if this is it: after coming back so well, to lose two on the spin will hurt. Other hand, at 6-2 he left himself a lot to do and hoping to win seven before Mark could win three was a big ask.

Allen 8-8 Zhou (10-0)

But drifting one to left corner, a double kiss when the ball comes out of the jaws offers Mark a go to middle, he sends it down, and after 11 minutes the first ball of our decider is potted. There are points out there now, though, and this is a chance to win it, make no mistake about that.

Allen 8-8 Zhou (0-0)

A handshake and a tactical start to the 17th and final frame. Almost every one this evening has been a ruckus, and so far thi is no different; it's Zhou who goes at a pot first, missing to right corner; somehow, he leaves nowt.

Allen 8-8 Zhou

Mark Allen has more bottle than the Rovers Return. One frame to decide the title!

Allen 7-8 Zhou (76-59)

Mark not only escapes but manages a snooker ... and Zhou misses! Green to secure a decider ... and it's there!

Allen 7-8 Zhou (71-59)

This time it's a simple escape, well executed, but Zhao's next effort, in behind the black, is much better, and Mark doesn't get close! There's no miss called, but the frame is back in the balance, and this is fantastic stuff from the Chinese, who has played really good safety tonight and in this frame especially. He lays yet another snooker, Mark hits the pink, and do we a hae a new favourite for the frame? Is Zhao about to win his first ranking title? El Pistolero hits the pink a second time, and this is so, so tense.

Allen 7-8 Zhou (71-43)

When he plays it, it's not very good and Mark escapes easily, his second effort is much harder to achieve ... but much better executed, the length of the table and the balls that run down the middle blocking things off. The escape, though, is very good, so Zhao takes the final red, adds black and, with the yellow just above the baulk cushion, goes again. This time, he leaves a long diag to the yellow bag ... and Mark can't get it down! So Zhao tidies, and goes again.

Allen 7-8 Zhou (71-18)

Mark takes on a longun to left corner that's fraught with danger now the black is off the rail ... and it won't stop down! Chance for Zhou to force a re-spot, but he brushes the green, doesn't get on to the black properly, so takes the blue, accepting his need for a snooker.

Allen 7-8 Zhou (71-4)

This game! Playing save with the rest having run out of position, Mark goes in-off the black. He knocks it safe, though, which makes a difference because Zhou needs everything that's left to tie. This would be an even more unlikely dish than the one in frame 13.

Allen 7-8 Zhou (67-0)

Mark's won four deciders this week, but nevertheless this is a tremendous retort to losing five frames straight. The match deserves a shoot-out and so do we.

Allen 7-8 Zhou (46-0)

All night, Fouldsy's been saying Mark's playing too defensively, but now he's a frame from defeat, he's going for it. He's much more effective when allowing himself to pot, and there's no reason at all for him not to seize the frame at this visit. However he's playing, he's always got his stones.

Allen 7-8 Zhou (14-0)

A tactical start to frame 16, a decent safety from Mark eliciting an error. Zhou leaves the white up the table, he can get through to a red, and down it goes. A really good cut-back sustains the run, a brown brings him back up the table, and with the black now available, this is a chance.

Allen 7-8 Zhou

Zhou hits the front, and these are the biggest moments of his life.

Allen 7-7 Zhou (13-58)

Again, Zhou's worked out a break really well, and this is going to be a fifth frame in a row – with it coming the lead for the first time in the match. He'll be a frame away from his maiden ranking trophy!

Allen 7-7 Zhou (13-43)

Zhou goes hard at a red, comes through a gap, and is nicely on a pink to middle. His first ranking title is hoving into view, and with that comes pressure. But so far, he's wearing it well.

Allen 7-7 Zhou (13-28)

Zhou mises a thin contact as we go in and out of baulk, the reds well scattered but the black blocking right corner. And eventually, a mistake comes ... from Zhou, leaving a starter and a chance for Mark. Can he parlay it into something significant? He cannot, jawsing one along the rail, and that is a real waste; he leaves plenty, too.

‘A dire shot’ - Allen makes huge blunder in safety attempt

Video credit: TNT Sports

Allen 7-7 Zhou (1-20)

Mark's a much btter player when looking to score and he forces one into right corner then, opting to lay a snooker rather than go for a colour, he makes a mess of the attempt. He's not enjoying himself out there.

Allen 7-7 Zhou (0-20)

Mark leaves a roll-up well short, also a red to middle, huge oversights; Zhao gets away, but he'll need to force a chance out of this because there's not much loose. So he tries for the pack off the black, the white jumps, the pot won't drop, and with the reds tightly clustereds ave one on the top rail, we could be here some time.

Allen 7-7 Zhou

A red shoots down to baulk and they quickly agree a re-rack. This is getting increasingly tense.

Allen 7-7 Zhou

Oh, but them after 48 minutes, Mark concedes. Four on the spin forZzhou, and it's now a level match. Who saw that coming before we started tonight?

Allen 7-6 Zhou (34-64)

And on we go. This match now has epic potential – the way tonight's gone, we could easily be here till midnight.

Allen 7-6 Zhou (34-64)

Zhou misses an opportunity to put the frame away, but Mark soon misses a cut; it doesn't cost him, because his opponent then butchers a much easier pot. He then sees off the final red, has a think about how when and how he'll lay his snooker ... and doesn't get close off the yellow.

Allen 7-6 Zhou (26-64)

Mark clunks a red into right corner, takes pink to middle, then gets in behind the black, brown covering most of the red. You'd not want to be here, but Zhou hits nicely, the match still going his way.

Allen 7-6 Zhou (19-64)

Just as Zhou looks in total control, a red threatens to stay out ... but it drops. In a few moments, we'll be level, and though he's not played well throughout this comeback, it takes a lot mentally to persevere as he has. A pink to corner leaves Mark needing a snooker.

Allen 7-6 Zhou (19-27)

Zhou's made and lost three ranking finals, one in the Shoot Out – Mark's won that – one in which he lost 9-0 to Neil Roberston, and another in which his opponent tonight rinsed him 9-4. So he's not ever played this kind of match, and so far, he's handling the novelty well.

Allen 7-6 Zhou (19-23)

Mark has a touching ball so plays away, catches the jaw of middle, and leaves Zhou a comfy starter; "a dire shot," equivocates Fouldsy. On he goes, forcing white off blue and on to pink, weleasing weds, and this is very good work.

‘This is anyone’s now’ - Zhou makes nerveless clearance to steal frame

Video credit: TNT Sports

Allen 7-6 Zhou (19-4)

A loose positional shot leaves him with a cut-back ... and doesn't get that close. He'll be feeling very poorly, but Zhou misses to middle, he's back in ... then goes softly into a pack he might've rammed, sticks inside it, and has to play safe off the green.

Allen 7-6 Zhou (13-4)

Mark reckons he's found a plant, goes at it hard ... and it's there. He looked good in the last frame, but there's a lot more pressure on him now than then; he daren't miss.

‘A nice shot’ - Allen sinks excellent pot to the middle from tight angle

Video credit: TNT Sports

Allen 7-6 Zhou (0-4)

It's a funny thing, really: Mark plays well for the first time tonight ... then Zhou serves him a dish. He'll have hated losing that frame more than any of the four that've gone against him tonight. And he's soon in trouble in frame 14, Zhou using a red in baulk to roll up behind the blue; he hits second go.

Allen 7-6 Zhou

A fantasitc clearance under pressure! Zhou closes to within one, and this is on a rolling boil now!

Allen 7-5 Zhou (60-54)

Leaving himself a cut from middle to corner, Zhou withdraws the rest ... nails a beauty. He's played several really good pots during this run, but can he get on to the yellow? Just, but it's fairly straight ane he needs to get on to the green. Here he goes ... and it's a roll to middle next ... nicely taken. Each shot begets another trickier than ideal, but after a cut brown he's nearly there.

Allen 7-5 Zhou (60-34)

Zhou's taking these really calmly, but the yellow is now just above the baulk rail, so there's work to do yet.

Allen 7-5 Zhou (60-14)

But with the frame nearly his, he undercuts to middle, and a dish here would make this match very interesting. The table is clearable, no balls on cushions.

Allen 7-5 Zhou (44-0)

Yup, he goes into the pack again, pots nicely to middle, then again, and this frame is disappearing quickly.

Allen 7-5 Zhou (22-0)

Mark thunks a starter into the leather, goes into the pack off the black, and he's OK. The interval came at a good time for him because he was playing poorly; a booming red that brings him back to the black suggests he's back at it.

We go again

‘Pretty clinical’ - Zhou deals with an insect in ruthless fashion

Video credit: TNT Sports

Allen 7-5 Zhou

Zhou does really well to escape a few snookers, finally lozzes the yellow, and at the interval there's plenty left in this yet. Good!

Allen 7-4 Zhou (17-54)

Mark's escape leaves one to middle and Zhou sinks it ... but goes in-off. so a net positive, with four points away but eight taken off the table. Mark needs a snooker, and gets himself in, pots a good pink, and can't white sneak white in tight between black and cushion.

Allen 7-4 Zhou (6-54)

a cut-back takes Zhou down for a baulk colour, but landing just above the brown, he'll probably play safe – reluctantlybut if he misses the pot he's asking to be mugged.

Allen 7-4 Zhou (6-41)

But it's Zhou looking the likelier at the moment, and he flows in another starter, moves ujp the table off the green, and this is a chance to secure a 3-1 mini-sesh.

Allen 7-4 Zhou (6-40)

No matter: he soon rockets a starter into corner, sorts the blue ... and has he overscrewed? Indeed he has; end of break, and every frame in this mini-sesh has been a struggle.

Allen 7-4 Zhou (6-30)

Zhou soon cannons the blue, so plays safe with a useful lead but the frame far from won.

Allen 7-4 Zhou (6-30)

Oooh, Zhou gets himself into trouble, but recovers with a cut-back that also develops a red, sent to baulk and which he'll bin after the green. He's fighting so hard for this break, and things are starting to move in his favour, but currently, each shot is a chaser.

Allen 7-4 Zhou (6-10)

Zhou misses a roll up, brushing the pink, but then gets in first. Problem he has is the black is tied up, and the pink is also difficult to get at.

Allen 7-4 Zhou

Neither man has played well this evening – Zhou just made the first 50 of the sash - but the next frame is the most crucial of the match. Mark wins it, it's near enough over; Zhou wins it, it's a contest.

Allen 7-3 Zhou (28-74)

And he secures a second frame on the spin. If he can make it a third, in the last before the interval, we might just have ourselves a ball-game.

Allen 7-3 Zhou (28-46)

But goodness me, he does, looking mystified when a red doesn't go into right corner; lifeline for Zhou!

Allen 7-3 Zhou (23-45)

And it does not. Bridging awkwardly and cueing downwards, Zhou misses by miles, leaving the world. It's a difficult game, more so when you're trying to finish off a tournament, but I'd be shocked if Mark misses before the frame is his.

Allen 7-3 Zhou (14-29)

He just can't get going. Zhou tries a three-ball plant and gets nowhere near – was it even on? – but Mark can't tidy, leaving another opportunity. This, surely, has got to go.

Allen 7-3 Zhou (14-8)

Zhou goes for a starter, misses, and leaves. He's had a great week, beating three former world champions in Selby, Williams and Brecel, but perhaps that took a toll because he's been far from his best in this match, Mark is in, will soon break the pack, and if it works out well, he'll be going five up with six to play. But a really poor shot on the blue, refusing the cannon, means he's not on the ball for which he played properly, he takes it on, opens a few reds, and when he gets nowhere near, he hands his opponent an opportunity.

Allen 7-3 Zhou

Mark softly bumps the final red, on the side rail, and it drops into the green bag, final roll. Now the concession comes, and he's two away. It's a long, long way back from here.

Allen 6-3 Zhou (61-14)

Zhou hits but Mark then pots again, adds the black and, though he then snookers himself on the final red, missing the escape means there's no concession. It's imminent, though.

Allen 6-3 Zhou (53-10)

Mark runs out of position, so lays a snooker; Zhou returns to the table needing all the balls to tie and with the two remaining reds on or near the side.

Allen 6-3 Zhou (45-10)

A plant opens more balls, then a black with the rest keeps the run going and a delicate yellow across the table, his best shot of the night says Fouldsy, and the frame is there to be taken.

Allen 6-3 Zhou (24-10)

After much safety, Zhou makes the error, so Mark drains a starter and this is a chance. The reds need picking through, but removed in the correct order, eliminating one liberates another.

Allen 6-3 Zhou (6-10)

Gently gently, Mark slides to right-centre ... but hits the inside of the far jaw. So Zhou tidies, breaks pack off blue ... then misses his third red by a way, slumping head on to cue in disappointment. He knows he's got to start scoring as he won't win this pot by edging scrappy ones, but then Mark castches the green coming around the angles, an oversight he compounds by botching the far from impossible pot he leaves himself. So Zhou tickles io a starter with the red with no obvious colour for him to land on, such that he now faces difficulty getting everything safe. He manages, just about.

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Video credit: TNT Sports

Allen 6-3 Zhou

Zhou does enough, and it though it takes round about 45 minutes, he reduces the arrears.

Allen 6-2 Zhou (41-62)

A poor short from Mark leaves a cut to left corner, but Zhou just can't get over the line in the frame and he misses again. But as I type, a further error offers a further opportunity, this time he accepts it, he's on the green, just, and plays a beautiful shot to go up and down for brown. This is surely the frame.

Allen 6-2 Zhou (41-57)

Again, Mark leaves a long pot, again Zhou misses it, and this time leaves a dolly to middle. So The Pistol rams it home, promotes the back off the side, and it lands near the yellow. So instead of taking a colour, he lays a snooker, blue and pink blocking the route to the aforementioned, and two misses follow, then a hit that just about gets it safe.

Allen 6-2 Zhou (32-57)

Zhou tries a cut from middle to corner and gets really close, then Mark escapes a snooker and lays one in the process Zhou escapes too, then a very poor response leaves him a longun diagonally to left corner. But the pot stays out then, after another miss to the yellow bag, he leaves a tight cut to middle ... which Mark doesn't even attempt. This frame has been going about 35 minutes.

Allen 6-2 Zhou (32-57)

As expected, the break gets harder and Zhou thinks a while, then tries a cut, catching another ball on the way and jawsing the red. So Mark sees it away, promotes another off the side, and if he can dish here, the lead compounded by the sickness will more or less secure victory. There's still a ball in the middle of black cush ... which he tries to move off the blue when he might tuck in behind. He doesn't do enough, so he sends it to baulk, green partially blocking the route to it, and sits down back in the frame.

Allen 6-2 Zhou (15-31)

Zhou builds and, though he's running out of loose balls, he should manage to clinch the frame at this visit.

Allen 6-2 Zhou (15-16)

Mark adds the pink, thoughtfully left over the bag for him ... only to miss the next, for no apparent reason. I'm not sure what happened there because immediately after playing the shot, he leap up with a start; perhaps something disturbed him, but as Nealf notes, he shouldn't miss those even if there's a brass band playing. Chance for Zhou.

Allen 6-2 Zhou (7-9)

Mark then goes in-off, offering a mid-ranger to left corner, and Zhou, who's been exemplary so far in this frame, slides it home ... only to leave a cut-back pink well short ... and wide ... with a starter available. That'll sting, because yerman worked so hard to earn that opportunity, only to immediately toss it.

Allen 6-2 Zhou (0-4)

In the five matches he won to get here, Mark took four by the odd frame – he can scrap – but, as we know, he can also play – better than almost anyone. Anyroad up, it's a tactical start to the session, El Pistolero missing a thin contact,but otherwise nothing happening but good safety.

A handshake

And away we go. Zhou must start well.

Our players are ready

Let's get the boyz on the baize!

The problem he has

Is that Mark knows how to win. So many times now, we've seen him win tournaments playing below his best – he was dreadful going 3-0 down to Ding on Thursday evening. But he found a way back, improved through the match, and now needs just three of a potential nine frames to lift the trophy.

The first I heard of Zhou

Was Mark Selby naming him as the best of the young Chinese players at the time. That's not quite materialised – Wu Yize and Zhao Xintong have gone past him – but he remains a very good player with plenty of room ad time to improve.

Evening all

We go again. Zhou has a lot of work to do – 6-2 down in a race to nine is a problem against anyone, never mind a killer like Mark Allen.

Allen 6-2 Zhou: Former world No. 1 in control after first session

Very dominant from Mark Allen who has shown his quality in this match. The 132 break in the first frame set the tone for the entire session.

Zhou Yuelong rallied, but made mistakes at crucial times, which leaves him cut adrift with Allen three frames from victory.

However, he has done enough to stay in contention but will need a big turnaround this evening. The session starts at 19:00 BST, see you then!

Allen 6-2 Zhou

Zhou leaves Allen an easy shot and he takes it! That's the frame.

He was favourite before the final, he definitely is ahead now at the break. Mark Allen is three frames away from a maiden English Open title.

Allen 5-2 Zhou (63-28)

Allen does well to get out of a snooker. Oh no! Zhou misses the red completely as the ball drifts away! He throws his hands up in frustration

Crucially, Allen pots one of the two remaining reds and is closing in on this frame. He pots the brown and, barring any fouls, Zhou can only draw at best. He goes for safety on the red.

Allen 5-2 Zhou (54-28)

Zhou needs this next break. And he gets it. What can he do here? He spends a long time calculating but leaves himself far too much angle on the blue. He goes for the pink instead but will surely have to play for safety here.

Points, but not as many as he would like.

Allen 5-2 Zhou (54-0)

After a few shots with the game going nowhere, a re-rack is called. Allen's break leaves Zhou with options though but he misses a long red and lines it up perfectly for Allen.

And Allen capitalises. This has been a gift of a break and he goes about it with ease with excellent cue control, entering the 50s.

However, he runs out of reds and plays for safety, with Zhou just about in the frame still.

Watch: Allen flukes red to set seal on frame

‘The exclamation mark on the frame’ - Allen flukes red to set seal on frame

Video credit: TNT Sports

Allen 5-2 Zhou

This is the dominant frame Zhou sorely needed. He all but secures the frame with a cool pot of the black and looks good value to ton up.

He misses the pink though and stops on 81. Doesn't matter, crucially he has a second frame on the board.

Watch: Referee calls foul on Zhou, changes mind after seeing replay

Referee calls foul on Zhou, changes mind after seeing replay

Video credit: TNT Sports

Allen 5-1 Zhou (0-38)

Two frames to go in this session, and Zhou surely needs to take both if he wants any chance of winning the English Open.

Safety game to begin with from both players. Allen has a longshot here, will he go aggressive? He goes for it, but to no avail.

That leaves Zhou with the chance to get off the mark and he takes it. How big can he make this break?

He gets past 40 and keeps going. This is his frame to lose.

Allen 5-1 Zhou

Zhou goes for the final red and gets unlucky! Worse still, Allen is well-placed to take the sixth frame and makes no mistake with the red.

Mark Allen pots the yellow to take the frame and is four frames away from victory.

He cleans up the colours too for good measure.

Allen 4-1 Zhou (50-31)

Allen takes a bold longshot but misses. However, he's back scoring soon after and once again, he has Zhou under pressure. He takes the lead in the frame but could run out of reds in a frame where it could come down to the colours.

Lucky! He misses the corner pocket but it rebounds into the other corner, and plays for safety. This is bubbling up nicely.

Allen 4-1 Zhou (20-31)

Every time Zhou has made a mistake, Allen has been there to punish. But he has left himself a very thin cut on the blue, so opts for the brown instead.

He succeeds but eventually runs out of reds and Zhou retains his lead as he returns to the table.

Allen 4-1 Zhou (0-31)

Zhou Yuelong needs to find something fast to resurrect this match. Mark Allen is in imperious form. Here's a chance though.

And he takes it. But he leaves the black a little straight and could be in trouble again. After negotiating that, there is some confusion on whether Zhou fouled but he does strike the red first. Either way, Allen is back on the table.

Allen 4-1 Zhou

Zhou cannot make the most of the lucky break and Allen has a second chance. The reds are pretty well scattered and Allen should go 4-1 up here.

He methodically moves his way up into the 40s and is soon in complete control. This could be another big break.

A warm round of applause as he bags the fifth frame and Allen playes a safe shot but Zhou concedes regardless.

Allen 3-1 Zhou (9-5)

Allen picks up where he left off and is off the mark in the fifth frame. But he tries the break open the pack of reds when potting the blue and a red drops in! Unfortunate.

Allen 3-1 Zhou (0-0)

Mark Allen breaks to get us underway again. What can Zhou Yuelong do to respond?

McManus: "Lacklustre performance from Zhou

Alan McManus speaking to TNT Sports: "It's been a lacklustre performance from Zhou, in part to Mark Allen.

"It is very interesting what's going on out there."

Watch: Allen flukes red, misses black and immediately concedes frame

Allen flukes red, misses black and immediately concedes frame

Video credit: TNT Sports

Watch: Allen opens final with total clearance

‘You cannot get better than that’ - Allen opens final with total clearance

Video credit: TNT Sports

Allen 3-1 Zhou

The frame hits the half-hour mark before Allen pots the red in off the cushion and that is enough to secure the frame.

Allen has looked brilliant and deservedly leads at the interval. Zhou hasn't been bad at all but needs to find something to disrupt Allen's rhythm.

Allen 2-1 Zhou (69-24)

A bit of a lucky break for Allen but he's the first to get going in this tight frame. A 3-1 lead seems inevitable now as he passes 50.

He gets the penultimate red to get ahead in the frame, the cageiest of the match so far.

Zhou needs a snooker and a free ball to nick the frame and soldiers on.

Allen 2-1 Zhou (25-24)

Allen takes the lead, but doesn't get enough spin on his shot to set things up nicely. The ambitious plant doesn't come off but Zhou has no choice but to play for safety.

Allen 2-1 Zhou (0-24)

Zhou goes on the attack. He pots, and knocks off a straight blue. Is this his opportunity to level up the match?

But he sets himself up poorly and misses a shot on the red and Allen is back in a good position to extend his lead.

Allen 2-1 Zhou (0-12)

Slow start to the fourth frame. Allen isn't quite playing for safety, he is showing aggression with ambitious shots but ensuring he doesn't set Zhou up should he miss.

Zhou sets up a nasty snooker, hiding the ball behind the brown, and Allen calculates his angles. He strikes five cusions but fouls.

Worse still, Zhou has a sight at a red and gets going. But he runs out of options and has to play for safety once more.

Allen 2-1 Zhou

Not very. He misses the long-range red on 72 but that is enough to retake the lead.

Allen 1-1 Zhou (66-22)

Zhou has looked good for large parts of this match so far but has given Allen a chance to punish him and he is taking it.

An aggressive shot on a red from distance is the highlight of the string of shots as he overtakes Zhou in the frame.

The leftie continues on his merry way and digs himself out of a tricky situation, finding the center pocket with a shot that should prove pivotal in the frame.

a straightforward pot of the blue secures the frame, how big can the break be?

Allen 1-1 Zhou (0-22)

Zhou confidently pots ther first red of the frame before doing a good job to get the black in from a sharp angle.

But he undercuts the red to hand play back to Allen who has plenty of options on the table.

Allen 1-1 Zhou

Allen will need to be near-perfect to snatch this frame though. He plays for safety and Zhou should be on course to level up now.

The Northern Irishman finds a superb angle to pot a red off the cushion but it ironically makes his life harder as he needs to pot the black from range. He concedes before the black stops rolling and we are all square.

Allen 1-0 Zhou (0-65)

Allen also opened up with a 100+ break in the opening frame when these two met in the 2022 Northern Ireland final, which Allen won 9-4.

The second frame is not as exciting as the first so far as both initially play for safety before Allen misses a cannon. He misses another attempt and this time Zhou is set up well to get off the mark.

The world number 32 presses on well and does actually remain in contention for a 147. But he misses the black and the frame isn't safe yet!

Allen 1-0 Zhou

Yes he can. A very speedy opening frame and Mark Allen is off the mark with a 132 break, and he clears the table.

Allen 0-0 Zhou (70-0)

This is a real statement of an opening frame from Mark Allen. Zhou can only sit and watch as his opponent cleans up the reds and secures what should be an unassailable lead.

Can he get a 100+ break now?

Allen 0-0 Zhou (44-0)

Allen pots the first ball of the final, and sets himself up on the black, which he makes no mistake on. After a brief delay to sort a glaring light, The Pistol races away to give himself a healthy advantage in the opening frame.

And off we go!

Zhou Yuelong breaks to get the English Open final underway.

Start imminent

Just a reminder of the format today in case you need it.

It will be a best of 17 final split over two sessions, so, while neither player will be able to lift the Steve Davis Trophy this afternoon, someone can make significant progress over the next few hours.

Watch: Zhou thrilled with semi-final win over Selby

‘A special semi-final’ - Zhou thrilled with win over Selby

Video credit: TNT Sports

Watch: the moment Allen secured his place in the final

‘Slow to start but boy what a finisher’ - Allen wraps up comeback win over Jones

Video credit: TNT Sports

Mark Allen’s route to the final

Round of 64: Beat Scott Donaldson 4-1

Round of 32: Beat Stuart Bingham 4-3

Round of 16: Beat Ding Junhui 4-3

Quarter-Final: Beat Elliot Slessor 5-4

Semi-Final: Beat Jak Jones 6-5

Zhou Yuelong’s route to the final

Round of 64: Beat Xu Si 4-1

Round of 32: Beat Mark Williams 4-1

Round of 16: Beat Barry Hawkins 4-2

Quarter-Final: Beat Luca Brecel 5-4

Semi-Final: Beat Mark Selby 6-3

Coming up: who can get an early lead in the first session?

Eleven days ago, we had 128 players in Brentwood. Now we are down to just two.

Zhou Yuelong has had a torrid 2025 so far but has found the form of old to reach his fourth ranking final. He has lost his last three. Will it be fourth time lucky?

Standing in his way is Mark Allen, who has 11 ranking titles to his name, but will be eager to add the English Open to his trophy cabinet.

Welcome, everyone, to the English Open final.

Good afternoon

Hello and welcome to our LIVE updates from the 2025 BetVictor English Open final.

We await a thrilling final with Mark Allen and Zhou Yuelong facing off in the final for the Steve Davis Trophy.

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BetVictor English Open

‘It's make or break’ - How ‘nervous’ Allen overcame fatigue, Zhou to win epic final

22/09/2025 at 11:01

BetVictor English Open

Allen wins fifth deciding frame of week to beat Zhou in English Open final

22/09/2025 at 08:36