Mark Allen is one of the best snooker players in the world right now.
Yes, the Northern Irishman fell short at the World Championships this year, but he’s the world number one and an 11-time ranking event winner.
The Pistol is undoubtedly one of the best players in the WST these days, and he’s had some memorable battles over the years.
Speaking to the WST’s YouTube channel, Allen has been discussing who his favourite opponent on the tour is, and, as you may expect, Allen gave a shoutout to Ronnie O’Sullivan, labelling The Rocket as the greatest player of all-time.
Ronnie O’Sullivan is Mark Allen’s favourite opponent
The world number one spoke about playing against O’Sullivan and why he’s his favourite opponent.
“For me it has to be Ronnie O’Sullivan. He’s the greatest of all-time. The ultimate test to see where your game is at and the atmosphere is always something special when you play Ronnie,” Allen said.
O’Sullivan is the ultimate challenge
You know you’ve made it in snooker if you can beat Ronnie O’Sullivan on the biggest of stages.
As Allen says, The Rocket may be the most gifted player to ever pick up a cue, and he’s also arguably the most popular player of all-time.
The atmosphere in an arena is just different when O’Sullivan is playing, and it’s hard to imagine the type of pressure that brings when you come up against him.
Unsurprisingly, Allen doesn’t often get the best of O’Sullivan, the pair have met seven times in professional ranking events over the years, and Allen has won just one of those – a famous victory back at the 2009 World Championship.
It’s been 15 years now since Allen beat O’Sullivan in a ranking event, and that’s a hoodoo that the Northern Irishman will certainly want to break the next time these two meet on a major stage.