Mark Allen admits he would love to see more massive crowds in Hong Kong-style arena snooker – but fears that will have to be outside the UK.
The 36-year-old is preparing for the defence of his home Northern Ireland title starting on Sunday that he claimed with a brilliant comeback 9-8 win over John Higgins in Belfast last year.
World No10 Allen, a former Masters champion and winner of six ranking events, insists that was by far and away his greatest moment in front of a partisan crowd.
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For that reason he appreciated Marco Fu’s recent run to the final in his home Hong Kong Masters. There were four record crowds in four days culminating in a massive 9,000 for the showpiece.
And while the left-hander, who lifted the trophy in front of 1,100 at the Waterfront Hall 12 months ago, would love to sample that atmosphere he fears that will only happen overseas.
Allen said: “Seeing the footage of Marco Fu making a 147 in front of 7,500 fans on his home turf and getting to the final – I can appreciate what he was feeling.
“The fact they had a crowd of 9,000 for the final in Hong Kong is just crazy. I have played the Masters against Ronnie O’Sullivan in front of 2,500 and that was mad.
“And we are talking about a number almost four times that! That’s like a football crowd, and a number that I never thought snooker could attract if I am honest.
“If it was ever going to happen it was likely to be in Asia, but it shows what the sport is capable of. Maybe it is something we can look at doing more of, that type of event showcasing the very best players.
“For the Home Nations this season there were qualifying weeks where the top 16 were not involved – so they could go around the world and stage tournaments in those weeks.
“World Snooker Tour need to try and do something off the back of it. I am not sure the demand in the UK would be big enough for arena snooker and selling 6,000-7,000 seats.
“The Masters does sell out at 2,500 at Ally Pally. But elsewhere in the world and especially in Asia they are really crazy for it. And we can try other countries.”
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Allen, who has shed almost five stones since May, also confirmed that having finally won in Belfast, he feels like a huge weight has been lifted from his shoulders..
He added: “I don’t feel anywhere near the pressure coming into it this year. Normally the couple of weeks before it I am a nervous wreck.
“But winning last year finally took that away. Don’t get me wrong, going out to play my first match as defending champion on Sunday I will be nervous.
“I want to do well for the home fans again, but I don’t have quite the same things to prove any more. And I always felt like I did, and that I wanted to win the title for them.
“Of course I’d love to win it again and it would be the only way I could get into the Champion of Champions later this month. But if I never won it again, at least I did it once.
“I played really well and had a great run to the final at the recent British Open – and though I was disappointed not to get the title, Ryan Day deserved to win that match.
“There were plenty of positives though, and I am just looking forward to this run of good tournaments starting in Belfast. There was a big gap in the calendar that wasn’t great.
“But it fell for me well in the sense of getting used to the weight loss and how it affects my game on the table.
“It was an amazing night last year, without a doubt the best of my snooker career – and I would have said that even if I had lost 9-8.
“It was just a phenomenal experience to be involved, in front of that crowd - a home crowd, but also a fair crowd.
“And up against an all-time great in John Higgins and managing to get over the line in the decider in your home event was amazing.
“To have my mum there in particular, as she hadn’t been too well, and my daughter there, my partner…it was just a really good night and it doesn’t seem a year ago at all.”
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