Mark Allen says Judd Trump had him ‘completely gone’ in World Grand Prix final – ‘Hard to stop when he is like that’

Trump roared back from 7-2 down to 8-8, and then 9-9, to force a deciding frame at Cheltenham’s Centaur Arena, but Allen held his nerve with a composed 52 break to sneak over the line just as a famous comeback beckoned.

And the 36-year-old paid tribute to his opponent in the aftermath of the match.

“I don’t know about nerves because I was shaking like a s***ing dog there!” said Allen.

“Judd had me completely gone. It’s not often I go I feel I’m pretty good under pressure.

“Some of the balls he potted were ridiculous at times. At 8-5, he potted one which most people would get one in a thousand but Judd seems to get them a lot.

“He put me under a lot of pressure so I absolutely fell over the line. It would have been heartbreaking 7-2 up [to lose] but Judd never gave up and looked so comfortable out there.”

He continued: “Judd got on a run and he is hard to stop when he is like that. His safety improved as well.

“These things are never easy. Yes it would have been nicer to finish it in one go in the last frame, but to get over the line after being so far ahead shows the strength in character that I’ve got.

“There were a number of times I thought I had him in all sorts of trouble and he won three frames from crazy reds. That puts you under pressure because your safety needs to be perfect. He has won everything the game has to offer so you are expecting that. It’s still not nice to have to put up with it though.”

Allen is the tour’s form player, having won three tournaments thus far this year, adding the World Grand Prix title to wins at the Northern Ireland Open and the UK Championship.

And the 36-year-old has said his success is owed to a team effort, but he reserved particular praise for his psychologist.

“I chatted to my psychologist at 6-2 and not that we were being negative, but he said I get to test myself if he gets back into it. If I go ahead and win 10-2 that is great,” added the 36-year-old.

“However, if it goes close it is another challenge. If I am up to that then brilliant and if not then we will try again next week. It is really clear things like that he is trying to get me to enjoy, the battle. It didn’t turn out to be the best final frame, but ultimately I got the job done.

“I’m thinking so positively all of the time. Even when my game isn’t there, I am thinking clearly. I am choosing the shots that are best for the occasion and how I am thinking on any given day. He has helped me get there. It has been a proper team effort. Sorting a lot of problems off the table has meant I can focus on snooker again and that is great.”

Allen returns to action in the Shoot Out on Wednesday against Jack Lisowski.

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