Mark Allen displayed sportsmanship in defeat as he narrowly missed out on the Home Nations Series bonus to Jack Lisowski. Allen humorously mentioned he “cried himself to sleep” after losing the chance to claim the £150,000 prize.
Lisowski staged a remarkable comeback, highlighted by a superb break of 78 in the decisive frame of his semi-final clash against John Higgins, securing his spot in the final and ultimately clinching the substantial cash prize.
Initially leading the rankings throughout the Home Nations campaign, Allen stumbled in the Welsh Open, allowing his competitors to seize the opportunity. Despite winning the English Open in September and reaching the semi-finals of both the Northern Ireland and Scottish Opens, Allen suffered an unexpected first-round defeat in Wales to David Grace.
With only four players in contention for the jackpot, Lisowski capitalized on the situation presented to him, leaving Allen to graciously acknowledge his rival’s success while feeling the disappointment deeply.
In a social media post, Allen acknowledged Lisowski’s achievement and humorously expressed his recurring second-place finishes over the years, adding that he jokingly “cried himself to sleep” after posting the message.
Lisowski, who trailed Higgins before rallying to secure a 6-5 victory, attributed his success to maintaining focus and composure under pressure, emphasizing his determination to keep potting balls until securing the win and the prize money.
Reflecting on his turnaround, Lisowski admitted to initially struggling with his performance but managed to break free from the pressure and play his natural game, leading to his impressive victory. He now looks ahead to facing Barry Hawkins in the final, maintaining a focused and determined attitude towards the upcoming match.
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