Mark Allen withdraws from the British Open and English Open: Why the former world No.1 will miss a fifth consecutive ranking event

Mark Allen has shocked snooker fans by withdrawing from the 2026 British Open and the 2026 English Open for personal reasons. This is not just a routine absence. Since his dramatic 16-17 World Championship semi-final defeat to Wu Yize, the Northern Irishman has now missed five consecutive ranking events on the World Snooker Tour. For a former world No.1 with 12 ranking titles, and still only 40 years old, this long period on the sidelines raises far bigger questions than a single disrupted draw. The British Open begins on August 31 in Cheltenham. Mark Allen was one of the most anticipated names in the original entry list. But days before the tournament, SnookerHQ.com confirmed his withdrawal, and his place was given to Patrick Whelan. Then came the English Open, starting on September 7 in Brentwood, where Allen was also missing. Sam Craigie, who was scheduled to face Allen in the first round, received a bye. Remarkably, Allen is the defending champion at the English Open, having beaten Zhou Yuelong in last year's dramatic final. By failing to defend his title, he will lose a significant chunk of ranking points in the early part of the 2026/27 season. Allen had already skipped the China Open and the Wuhan Open. What began as a short break has turned into a full-blown absence crisis. In a brief statement, Allen said: "I am gutted. I love playing in China." The words suggest regret and emotional attachment, while also indicating that the withdrawals were not made lightly. At 40, Allen is at a stage where snooker players must confront the unforgiving nature of age. He reached world No.1 in 2026 and proved his quality by winning the English Open in 2026, but after such a long layoff, his sharpness and confidence are now uncertain. The psychological impact of losing 16-17 in a World Championship semi-final cannot be underestimated. Leading late and having chances to close out the match, Allen was left with a wound that may require time to heal. From a ranking perspective, missing five straight events is costly. The English Open withdrawal is especially damaging because Allen was defending a large number of points. If he cannot perform soon after his return, he may fall out of the top seedings, making future draws even harder. The next test will arrive at the Shenzhen Open at the end of September. That event will reveal whether Allen has come back fresh and motivated, or whether the long break has eroded the sharpness needed to compete at the highest level. Snooker fans worldwide, including in Vietnam, will be watching closely.