Mark Allen has dedicated his money-spinning Riyadh Season Snooker Championship victory to late mentors Terry Griffiths and Joe Shortt.
The Antrim cueman’s coach of 15 years and Welsh snooker legend Griffiths passed away at the age of 77 earlier this month after Shortt, who was also influential in shaping Allen’s game, died last year.
After clinching the joint-biggest payday of his career, winning £250,000 with a convincing 5-1 triumph over Belgian Luca Brecel in the Final, World No.4 Allen paid tribute to Griffiths and Shortt and said he hopes he’s “doing them proud”.
“For Terry and Joe,” Allen wrote on ‘X’.
“You’ll always be out there with me and I hope I’m doing you proud.”
Allen insists he has rediscovered his enjoyment for the game and added that the financial jackpot was the last thing on his mind in the Middle East.
He knocked out Ronnie O’Sullivan in the Semi-Finals of the tournament in Saudi Arabia and, after two century breaks against Brecel, matched the quarter of a million he won when he was victorious in the 2022 UK Championship.
He lost the first frame in the decider but staged a thrilling fightback, and Allen, who says his priority is simply winning tournaments, is hoping that performance is fuel for more success going forward.
“It’s great to win any tournament, but to win an event when it’s the top 10 players is extra special,” he said.
“I’ve got the enjoyment back with my game. I really wasn’t enjoying the way I was playing for a few months, and that was even when I was winning matches or winning tournaments over the past couple of seasons.
“I’ve started playing quicker and I’m enjoying it a lot more than I was.
“I’m not going to lie, the money’s great and we all have bills to pay and stuff like that. But I promise you, I wasn’t thinking about the money at all.
“During the presentation, they said Luca won £125,000 as runner-up and I thought it was £100,000, so that shows I’m not focused on the money.
“I just want to win tournaments, and if I keep winning titles, then the money will take care of itself.”