Mark Allen makes bleak admission after early World Grand Prix exit

Mark Allen says his confidence ‘is on the floor’ and he hopes not to qualify for the upcoming Players Championship after an early exit from the World Grand Prix.

The Pistol took on Jimmy Robertson in the opening round in Hong Kong on Wednesday and things were going well as he took a 2-0 lead, making two half-centuries.

However, the world number 36 bounced back with a trio of half-centuries of his own and completed a 4-2 victory to book his spot in the last 16.

Allen had a brutally honest assessment of his performance after the defeat, writing on X: ‘If I could find a safety game, a few long pots and cut out the silly easy losses I’d maybe win a game or two