Mark Allen backed to win World Championship in future by expert - ‘I honestly believe he’s got it in him’

Mark Allen has been backed to win the World Snooker Championship one day by Eurosport’s David Hendon. Allen put on a classy performance to beat Chang Bingyu 4-1 in his first defence of the Northern Ireland Open on Sunday night, picking up where he left off after reaching the final of the British Open earlier this month. Ad Having lost five stone in four months, Allen – who is a former Crucible semi-finalist — is looking fresh for the new season, and Hendon believes this could be a turning point in his career.

Northern Ireland Open‘I just felt edgy’ – Allen overcomes early nerves to dismantle Chang10 HOURS AGO Joe Johnson sparked the conversation, saying: “I think he's a player, Mark Allen, he's won more than people realise. “He's won six ranking events, he's won five of the minor ranking events. He’s also won the Masters, he's won the Champion of Champions.

He won an invitation event in China. So, 14 professional titles. “A lot of people would say that's a great haul, considering all the players he had to beat to win those tournaments.” To which Hendon replied: “There will also some people that think you should have won the 'big one' and I'm one of them.

He’s certainly good enough and as you say he came into the pro league having won so much so he was a proven winner. “He’s still got time and to be honest, David, he's looking so good. The weight that’s he lost, that could help him tremendously, who knows? “I honestly believe that he’s got it in him.