Gritty Allen Prevails in Brentwood Classic

Northern Ireland's Mark Allen showcased his trademark resilience to overcome China's Zhou Yuelong 9-8 in a marathon English Open final, capturing his first ranking title since February 2024. The 39-year-old survived a stunning five-frame comeback from Zhou in a gripping contest that spanned two sessions and seven hours of high-stakes snooker.

Key Match Statistics

The Decisive Moments

• Frame 16: Zhou's 53-break puts him ahead 8-7
• Frame 17: Allen's clutch 89 clearance under pressure
• Frame 18: Tactical masterclass secures victory

Post-Match Reactions

"When Zhou went ahead, I had to dig deeper than ever before. These finals test every ounce of your mental strength," said Allen, who joins Steve Davis and Ronnie O'Sullivan as multiple Steve Davis Trophy winners.

Tournament Journey Highlights

• Survived FOUR final-frame deciders en route to final
• Defeated three former world champions (Bingham, Ding, Williams)
• Completed tournament with 97% pot success rate in clutch frames

With this victory, Allen moves to 5th in the World Rankings while Zhou climbs to a career-high 11th. The match set new records for:

• Longest televised final of 2025 season
• Most consecutive frames won from behind (5 by Zhou)
• Highest combined safety success rate (80%) in a ranking final

What's Next?

Both players now prepare for the Shanghai Masters, where Allen will defend his 2024 title against an increasingly competitive field featuring rising Chinese stars like Zhou.