The brilliant sportsman Mark Allen is a professional snooker player, who is a prolific break-builder, and has been ranked as high as third in the world. Up to 2023 he has secured 12 ranking and non-ranking victories, which includes the Masters in 2017/18, and the Northern Ireland Open in 2021/22 and in 2022/23.

Born and raised in Northern Ireland, Allen was initially interested in beicoming a professional footballer, and had trials with Sheffield Wednesday and Nottingham Forest before concentrating on snooker. He was the Northern Ireland U-14 Champion in 2000, the U-16 Champion in 2001, and went on to win the Irish U-16, U-18 and U-19 titles in one weekend in 2002, becoming the first player to win all three tournaments.

Allen started his professional career in 2003 when he took part in the Challenge Tour, and before entering the Main Tour for the 2005-06 season, he won the European Championship and the IBSF World Championship. Since then he has gone on to forge a remarkable career on the baize, claiming victories at 12 ranking and non-ranking tournaments between 2009 and 2023, including the Northern Ireland Open twice, the UK Championship, the Scottish Open, the Masters, and the Champion of Champions.

Allen regularly connects with his legions of followers and fans through Twitter, posting pictures and comments about his life both on and off the baize.