World Snooker Championship 2025: Mark Allen taking inspiration from Rory McIlroy to complete career grand slam with Crucible victory

Mark Allen was given a scare when Fan Zhengyi raced into an early lead in their first-round clash at The Crucible, but from there the former world No. 1 produced an assured display on Monday afternoon to fire a warning to the rest of the World Championship field. Watch and stream top snooker action, including the World Championship, live and on demand on TNT Sports and discovery+.

Mark Allen has told TNT Sports he is looking to draw inspiration from Rory McIlroy and complete his own grand slam of majors at the World Championship.

Earlier this month, superstar golfer McIlroy won The Masters to complete his quest for Grand Slam glory.

Allen, McIlroy's fellow Northern Irishman, is in the hunt for a first World Championship, which would see him complete snooker’s Triple Crown following his wins at The Masters (2018) and UK Championship (2022).

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And on the back of McIlroy’s success, Allen hopes it can be another winning moment for Northern Ireland sport - after kicking off his quest with a 10-6 win over Fan Zhengyi.

"What I can take out of Rory doing what he did," Allen told TNT Sports. "It’s been 14 years since he threw that Masters away in 2011.

"But he has kept coming back, going to the practice ground and grinding and grinding, and working on what he feels he needs to work on. I think there are a lot of comparisons as I am a really hard worker.

'Finishing with a flourish' - Mark Allen wraps up victory over Fan Zhengyi

Video credit: TNT Sports

"I have got some rewards out of the game, but if I look back on my career without a world title, I will feel like I have not got the just rewards."

Asked if it is written in the stars for him, Allen replied: "It is the 40-year anniversary of Dennis [Taylor’s World Championship win in 1985] as well. I am not a big believer in fate; the bottom line is I have to go out there and play well."

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Allen fell 3-0 behind to Fan in the opening session, but he did not look fazed and said his mental strength stood him in good stead - having been working with a psychologist.

"I didn't do much wrong to go 3-0 down, but I am mentally stronger than I have been in the past and I just took one frame and one shot at a time," Allen said. "I got as much as I could out of that session to go 5-4 ahead and that's probably where I won the match.

"I have been working hard on the mental side recently, talking to [psychologist] Paul [Gaffney] every day. On that side, I feel I am back where I was 18 months ago, and that will help me win frames. 

"I have also lost some weight by eating carefully, walking a lot and having ice baths and saunas. I feel in a good place."

'Awfully close' - Allen shot causes confusion in commentary box

Video credit: TNT Sports

Allen said that being at The Crucible gets his competitive juices flowing.

"I love it here," he said. "I am not sure if it is this place or this tournament that does it to me, but you are always on edge. 

"It is a special place, an atmosphere like no other, but you have to forget about that when you are out there."

Up next for Allen in round two is a meeting with Chris Wakelin, who edged out Neil Robertson, with the match live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

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