Mark Allen Dominates Riyadh Season Snooker Championship, Defeats Luca Brecel to Claim First Title of the Season

Mark Allen clinched his first title of the season at the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship with an emphatic 5-1 victory over Luca Brecel in the final. The Northern Irishman displayed exceptional form throughout the tournament, defeating defending champion Ronnie O’Sullivan in a tense semi-final before overpowering Belgium’s Brecel later the same day.

Allen’s semi-final showdown with O’Sullivan was a hard-fought contest. Despite O’Sullivan taking the opening frame, Allen capitalized on a missed red in the second frame to gain momentum. A stunning 134 break helped Allen secure a 3-1 advantage. Although O’Sullivan rallied to win the fifth frame, Allen’s composure and skill saw him close out the match to deny the seven-time world champion a spot in the final.

In the championship decider, Brecel, the 2022 world champion, made a strong start by winning the opening frame. However, Allen responded with a 104 clearance to level the match and then surged ahead with a 109 break in the fourth frame, taking a commanding 3-1 lead. After the interval, Allen maintained his dominance, clinching the next two frames to secure the title and the £250,000 prize pot.

Reflecting on his victory, Allen admitted to feeling nervous in the final stages but expressed pride in his consistent performance throughout the week.