Mark Allen turned in a disappointing performance in defeat to Ding Junhui (Picture: Getty Images)
Stephen Hendry feels Mark Allen is struggling with a lack of break-building and a shortage of intensity and he must rectify both problems to challenge for the World Championship title this year.
Allen came into the Tour Championship this week as the number one seed thanks to his three ranking title wins this season, however, his challenge in Hull did not last long.
Ding Junhui played very well, but the Northern Irishman was not great in a 10-5 loss to the Chinese star which saw him head home on the opening night of the tournament.
After a superb season so far there has been plenty of talk of a first world title for the Pistol, but Hendry is concerned over the significant drop off in his scoring power of late.
Allen has made 40 tons this season, but none in his last nine matches, the last coming in a first round win over Alfie Burden in the Welsh Open on 13 February.
The Pistol won that match and has won five matches since then, so it does not mean disaster, but Hendry says it will be worrying him it must be fixed if he is to challenge in Sheffield.
Speaking after the defeat to Ding, Hendry told ITV4: ‘He [Ding] was by far the heavier scorer of the two players, Mark Allen just didn’t have it. His scoring has deserted him at the worst part of the season, you have to say
‘Really disappointing performance from him, but credit to Ding, he just kept on scoring. 50s, 60s all day.
‘You’ve got to try and forget it and get back to the practice table. His scoring will worry him because that’s what he’s known for and this season he’s scored prolifically with century breaks.
‘If I was him I’d solely practice between now and Sheffield clearing the table every time. Get that break-building back.’
Hendry feels that the demeanour of the UK champion must also change, wanting to see a fiery Allen at the table once again.
‘His general manner round the table is not the Mark Allen we know, he’s usually an intense looking character,’ said the seven-time world champ. ‘He looks subdued a wee bit, I’d like to see that fire in his belly a bit more.’
Allen has had an immense season, but is not at top form right now (Picture: Getty Images)
Alan McManus was also on punditry duty on ITV and had some more advice for Allen, saying he must loosen up to find his best form.
‘Mark was a little bit unfortunate, but you’ve got to score in one visit and that takes luck out of the equation,’ said Angles.
‘His method right now…he’s playing with tight shoulders, you can’t do that. You have to play with freedom in the shoulders to deliver through the ball. He decelerated three or four times today and that’s a concern.’
Allen was unflustered after the loss, disappointed with how he played, but refusing to panic after a fine season and before the biggest event of the campaign.
‘Started alright, first two frames were decent, missed a tricky red in frame three and everything started to go wrong,’ said the world number three.
‘You’re playing the best players in the world on current form, so if you don’t play well in this tournament you’re going to get beat it’s that simple.
‘It’s not a time for me to panic, I’ll go home practice hard and get ready for Sheffield now.’
Speaking to WST, Allen said he would find a rapid way to get over the game, and it would come in liquid form.
‘I’m going to get very drunk tonight because that was a really poor performance today,’ he said.
‘I feel like I prepared really well, behaved myself, practicing hard, got in the gym and that was a performance I wasn’t expecting because the last few days in practice have been really good.
‘I’m going to have a well earned drink tonight and then back to the practice table.
‘Hopefully I get really, really drunk and can’t remember it.’