Allen Out To 'put Right' Poor Run Of Form At Worlds

Mark Allen will purpose to dress up for what he believes is "his worst play capacity wise for a agelong time" by making a awesome belief astatine this year's World Championship astatine nan Crucible Theatre.

Allen will statesman his bid for a first world title pinch a first-round lucifer against China's Zhang Anda, which originates connected Saturday greeting and finishes connected Sunday.

The Northern Ireland subordinate is simply a two-time semi-finalist astatine nan tourney but has besides suffered a bid of early exits successful Sheffield, including information 2 losses successful some of nan past 2 years.

Despite bemoaning his modular of play for overmuch of nan campaign, nan 40-year-old won nan English Open and reached nan semi-final shape of 4 different ranking tournaments.

He mislaid retired narrowly to Jack Lisowski for nan prize for nan champion performing subordinate crossed nan 4 Home Nations Series events.

"It's been a unusual season, I won nan English Open and person been successful those different semi-finals, but I consciousness for illustration I've been playing really, really poorly," said Allen.

"It has astir apt been my worst play capacity wise for a agelong clip but I've still crushed retired results.

"I want to play amended than I person been. It's not done deficiency of believe and I've been trying to do nan correct things disconnected nan table, it conscionable hasn't been my champion year.

"But I've sewage a bully opportunity to put it correct complete these adjacent 17 days and what a clip it would beryllium to do it."

Having antecedently won The Masters and nan UK Championship, Allen would for illustration to emulate nan feat of his compatriot, golfer Rory McIlroy, successful completing a profession expansive slam of his sport's awesome events.

"I've ever followed Rory's career. We turned pro astatine a very akin clip and he has done wonders successful nan world of sport.

"It would beryllium bully to travel successful his footsteps but evidently Rory is simply a overmuch bigger prima than I am.

"Being world champion is nan 1 point missing from my CV. It's a decent CV but I want to amended connected it twelvemonth connected year. I conscionable person to proceed to activity difficult and hopefully nan shape will turn.