Welsh Open 2024: ‘The shoulder is still sore’ – Mark Allen says he came close to withdrawing due to injury

Mark Allen advanced to the quarter-finals of the Welsh Open, but admitted he came close to withdrawing two days before the start of the tournament.

The world No. 3 has been nursing a shoulder problem, to an extent that he made an unsuccessful attempt to withdraw.

Allen said things did not go as planned, and he elected to make the trip to Llandudno.

“It is maybe a sign,” Allen told Eurosport. “I was trying to pull out on Saturday, but one thing and another I decided to come and give it a go.

“I am still here come quarter-final day, so I have a chance. The shoulder is still sore but it is alright when I am playing at the minute.”

Allen is unhappy with where his game is at right now, but is striving to find his best form.

“I don’t think I am anywhere near my best,” Allen added. “Some scrappy performances, some unusually poor positional play which is really affecting me.

“The chances I am getting, I am creating a lot of them, I am just not taking advantage of them.

“I have been working hard on things to try and correct it, but it’s just not there yet.

“As long as I am here and fighting and I have got a cue in my hand I will try and improve and get better.”