The Incredible Tale of Two Marks Making Their 2018 Mark
The Scottish Open was the final televised ranking event of 2018 which has seen a bumper year of snooker come to a close – but there’s plenty of drama and twists to come in 2019.
2018 has been a great year for two people. And their first names both begin with Mark!
Mark Allen began the year on the up with his tremendous win in London’s Alexandra Palace scooping his first triple crown major event – revealing then he was a real contender for major titles and competing with the big boys such as Ronnie O’Sullivan, John Higgins and Mark Williams.
But it was the resurgence of Mark Williams in the first half of the year that really shone through as the Welshman managed from nowhere to pick up the German Masters title at the start of the year, totally hammering Graeme Dott in the final and then, lifted his third World title in style in Sheffield in May after taking up coaching with Steve Feeney and SightRight. He also picked up the northern Irish Open in 2017 and the World Open much later into the new year of 2018.
The Pistol Fires in 2018…
Mark Allen will not be forgetting 2018 in a hurry.
He started the year in style and ended it in style too.
Allen is the real deal in snooker these days.
— Nigel Slater (@NSlater_Snooker) 16 December 2018
Now, in the last three months of the year, Mark Allen, now with five ranking titles to his name, has picked up the cudgel from the two Marks and lifted some more silverware including the major Chinese event the International Championship and the Scottish Open. It was also his performance in reaching the final of the UK Championship losing out to Ronnie O’Sullivan, who made it his 19th major win to beat the record of Stephen Hendry and Steve Davis.
The 32-year-old’s exploits in the last week led him to pocket 145K earning him this season so far total winnings of 393K.
Allen will defend his Master’s title in January 2019.
Mark No 1…
For the other Mark, his 2017/18 season saw him become the oldest player at 43 since Ray Reardon to win a World title.
And, his last season’s wins rocketed him up to no 2 in the World and pocketing a hefty 870K. This season has been modest in comparison to just 237K! But plenty of holidays in the pipeline!
There is, of course, the third Mark, and he’s still World no 1 for Christmas – but only just! That mark for Selby may well be coming to an end soon though! What goes up, must come down!
Watch Dafasnooker with the new Scottish Open champ Allen!
