Mark Allen’s absence from the World Snooker Tour has continued after the Northern Irish player withdrew from the 2026 Shenzhen Open for personal reasons.
The former world number one has yet to compete during the new season and has also missed several other tournaments, including the International Championship, Shanghai Masters, China Open, Wuhan Open, British Open and English Open.
Allen’s last appearance came at the 2026 World Championship, where he reached the semi-finals before losing 17–16 to Wu Yize. He had been scheduled to face Ben Mertens in the Shenzhen Open, but his withdrawal means he will remain away from competitive action for longer.
The 40-year-old is currently expected to return at the Northern Ireland Open in October, although his exact comeback date remains uncertain.
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