Mark Allen Stages Another Stunning Comeback to Reach English Open Final
Mark Allen continued his remarkable run of comeback victories at the BetVictor English Open, recovering from 5-3 down to edge Jak Jones 6-5 in a dramatic semi-final showdown in Brentwood. The Northern Irishman, known for his grit and determination, has made a habit of overturning deficits throughout the week. He came from 3-0 behind to defeat Ding Junhui 4-3 in the last 16, and remarkably battled back from 4-0 down to beat Elliot Slessor 5-4 in the quarter-finals.
Allen’s victory secures his place in a 20th career ranking final, where he will aim for a 12th title against China’s Zhou Yuelong. The final, played over 17 frames, will also be a rematch of the 2022 Northern Ireland Open final, where Allen triumphed 9-4. With £100,000 and the prestigious Steve Davis Trophy up for grabs, both players have everything to play for. Zhou, still seeking his maiden ranking title, will be hoping to go one better than in 2022.
Jones looked the stronger player early on, taking a 3-1 lead at the mid-session interval with breaks of 92, 84, and 61. Allen responded with a century and a 62 to level at 3-3, but Jones surged again to lead 5-3 and move within one frame of the final.
But Allen found another gear when it mattered most, reeling off three consecutive frames with composed breaks of 68, 67, and 82 to clinch victory past midnight. Ever the fan favourite, he stayed behind to sign autographs and pose for photos with supporters.
Reflecting on the win, Allen said: “That’s the best I’ve played all week. Zhou’s been excellent too, so I’ll need to raise my game in the final. I’d love to add the English Open to my collection – it’s one of the events I still really want to win.”
