Mark Allen picked the brains of Stephen Hendry in the build-up to the World Championship this year, and the legendary player’s advice was to play a bit less snooker.
The Pistol arrived at the Crucible this year without much form behind him, not winning a match since the Welsh Open in February.
After a first round defeat at the World Open to David Lilley, Allen posted on social media: ‘If I could find a safety game, a few long pots and cut out the silly easy losses I’d maybe win a game or two 😂😂 confidence is on the floor. Roll on next season.’
The Northern Irishman has now ended his losing streak with a 10-6 victory over Fan Zhengyi in his Crucible opener, looking solid in booking a last 16 clash with Chris Wakelin.
He appears to be heading in the right direction again after that low point after an early exit in Yushan in February.
‘It was only snooker related. I know I’ve had my issues in the past with depression but it was never like that,’ Allen explained. ‘It was just purely from a snooker standpoint. I was so frustrated with where my game was.
‘I was working hard. If I’d been taking time off then I deserve that. But I didn’t feel like I had taken the foot off the gas on the practice table. Just struggling for form.
‘It’s disappointing when you’re feeling like you’re preparing really well for every event and then losing early.
‘Then you maybe see other players and they’re talking about taking weeks off and going on holiday and nights out and all the stuff I believe you shouldn’t be doing before a tournament, but they’re doing well and winning events.
‘That’s quite frustrating at times but you just have to keep doing the right things and hopefully it will turn a corner.’
Allen looked for advice on how to turn things around and seven-time world champion Hendry told him to get away from the practice table and switch off from snooker entirely for some time.
‘I spoke to Stephen Hendry after I lost in the Players Championship,’ he explained. ‘Just asked him if he had any advice. He said, “take yourself away for a few days and don’t bog yourself down on the practice table.”
‘I’ve never done that in my career ever. Never mid-season have I gone away, other than between Christmas and New Year. It’s always been the way I’ve worked.
‘I feel like if I’m missing a day of practice I deserve to not play well the next day. I feel guilty for taking days off. But he pushed me down the road of taking a few days off and literally overnight I booked a flight to Dubai just thought about nothing snooker-related at all for a few days.
‘I came back a little bit fresher and hit the ground running on the practice table, which was good.
‘It’s not something I’d want to do all the time. I’ve always worked hard on the table, but maybe this time it is what I needed, it’s just hard for me to do that.’
The world number eight was thrilled to be able to speak to Hendry, a man he looked up to as his hero when he was a child.
‘He’s someone I completely respect. He was my hero growing up,’ said Allen. ‘Even just to have his number and communicate in any way is still a privilege for me.
‘If I’m picking the brain of one of the all-time greats of the sport it’s not a bad thing, he can only point me in the right direction, it’s still up to me to go out there and pot the balls
‘I’ve always been someone who’s prepared to speak to people and seek help to try and get better. That’s what I’m trying to do at any stage of my career.
‘Last year when I finished number one in the rankings, it was now, right how can I get better? It’s not quite worked out that way but that will never change in me.’
Next up for Allen is Chris Wakelin in the last 16, which gets underway on Thursday afternoon.