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Mark Allen extends snooker absence as he withdraws from another big-money event

metro.co.uk · 6h · first reportShare

Mark Allen has not competed since May (Picture: Getty Images) Mark Allen has withdrawn from another big ranking event due to personal reasons as his lengthy absence from the professional circuit continues. The 40-year-old has not played since the World Championship in May, where he lost to eventual champion Wu Yize in the semi-finals. Since then he has missed the non-ranking Shanghai Masters and a string of ranking tournaments: Championship League, China Open, Wuhan Open, British Open and English Open. The Northern Irishman had already pulled out of the upcoming International Championship and has now also withdrawn from the Shenzhen Open later this month. He was due to play Ben Mertens on September 28, but the Belgian youngster will get a bye to the last 32. The Shenzhen Open was previously the Xi’an Grand Prix, won by Mark Williams last season, before a move and new name. It comes with a top prize of £177,000. As with his other withdrawals, Allen’s absence has been announced as due to