Allen considers retirement after NI Open exit

The 40-year-old has had a decorated career, winning 12 ranking tournaments including the 2022 UK Championship since he turned professional in 2005.

However, this year has been a challenging one for Allen after he missed a match-winning black in the semi-final against Yize in May during the penultimate frame that would have taken him into his first World Championship final.

Allen went on to lose the final frame of the against eventual champion Yize and has since been a notable absentee from the World Snooker Tour circuit.

"The last three months have been really, really difficult and I think even just being here today is an achievement," added Allen.

"For me, today was not about the result or the performance, it was trying to enjoy the experience of playing one of my best mates in one of my favourite arenas, in one of my favourite tournaments.

"I am not going to announce it [retirement] right now after a defeat but it is something I have been contemplating for a while and something needs to change within the next six weeks before the UK Championship for me to show up and I need to work hard on myself in the next few week and see what is around the corner."