Mark Allen says Ronnie O'Sullivan advice key to weight loss success: 'I told him things that were personal to me'

Northern Ireland Open champion Mark Allen has praised Ronnie O'Sullivan for inspiring him to lose four stone over the close season. The former Masters champion has revealed how he spent time speaking to the seven-time world champion in Sheffield following his 13-4 defeat to the Essex icon in the second round at the Crucible in April. Ad O'Sullivan is a fitness fanatic who has used a rigorous running regime since turning professional in 1992 to keep him physically and mentally attuned for the considerable challenges of the green baize over the past three decades.

SnookerExclusive: ‘Horrendous’ – O’Sullivan opens up on drugs addiction which cost him ‘a few years'7 HOURS AGO «I had a good chat with O’Sullivan after we played in Sheffield,» said Allen. «I sat in his hotel room for about an hour, talking about snooker and all sorts of things, he really helped me, it was good. »He gave me a few pointers.

For my health more than anything just to lose some weight, if it helps your snooker so be it, but if it doesn’t it will help your mindset off the table, you’ll be better round your family, round your daughter and he was absolutely right. «I feel like that has changed my priorities over the summer and maybe why I took such a long break. »Everything he said has stood me in good stead and I’ve been working hard on it, and hopefully it’ll reap rewards on the table as well." «So I had a good chat with Ronnie, sat in his hotel room for about an hour after the match.

It was really good, he really opened up and I told him things that were personal to me. It was good, I really appreciated it. »Obviously someone like Ronnie doesn’t have to give anyone the time of day, he’s a busy man, I really appreciated that," added Allen, who also