Riyadh Season Snooker Championship: Mark Allen wins first title of season

Mark Allen beat Luca Brecel to win the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship and claim his first title of the season.

Northern Ireland’s Allen beat defending champion Ronnie O’Sullivan 4-2 in the semi-final before outplaying Belgium’s Brecel in the final later on Friday in a 5-1 victory.

“I was very nervous in the last few balls. I am happy to get over the line,” Allen said.

“You are never there until you’re there. I played some good stuff all week.”

Brecel, the 2022 world champion who beat Mark Williams 4-2 in his semi-final, won the opening frame of the final but Allen levelled with a 104 clearance.

A break of 109 in the fourth put Allen 3-1 up and he took the next two after the interval to win and take the £250,000 prize pot.