Mark Allen defeated Zhou Yuelong 9-4 at the BetVictor Northern Ireland Open, at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast, last Sunday. This victory lead him to retain his Northern Ireland Open crown which he had won for the first time during the 2021/2022 season.

However, this was not a smooth sailing victory. At the start of the game, things were not looking good for Allen as Zhou led 4-1 but Allen quickly fought back with breaks of 68, 44 and 55, helping him even the score 4-4.

Allen, The Pistol, quickly took the lead with 6-4 during the start of the evening session and did not give Zhou a chance to recover. After compiling breaks of 50 and above, Allen powered to the finish to win 9-4.

"You know how proud a Northern Irishman I am and how much I want to do well here for the fans. To win two years in a row is something. I just didn't think this day was ever going to happen." He told BBC Sport Northern Ireland.

Alongside the title and the Alex Higgins Trophy, this year’s triumph earned him £80,000.

Allen was confident all the way through the match even when Zhou was dominating the game.

He said to Eurosport: “It hasn’t been quite like last year, I didn’t have my best stuff this week. But what I did have was just unbelievable fight and tenacity because I feel like I won that match today in the first session.

“He (Zhou) completely dominated the play, he should have gone 5-1 in front, I was hanging on. I managed to get out 4-4 and was just a different player tonight. I was so positive.”