Just imagine rocking up to your local pub or sports club, and seeing former snooker Masters champion Mark Allen chalking his cue at the other end of a traditional eight-ball pool table.
The 36-year-old from Northern Ireland is one of the biggest stars on the World Snooker Tour and conventional wisdom would have you believe that he could hardly miss on the smaller pool table with more receptive pockets in the format used socially by millions in the UK.
And world No14 Allen, winner of six ranking titles and the reigning champion for his home event in Belfast, has become the latest player to tentatively spread his wings and try his hand at pool, as much for the challenge as to fill his calendar.
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Several players including Allen and former world champion Judd Trump have bemoaned the relative lack of high-profile tournaments on the snooker circuit this season. Defeat in a qualifier can leave a pro going weeks on end with little or no competition before November.
The snooker authorities rightly received huge praise for their strenuous efforts in being among the first sports to get back playing even without crowds and keeping the players busy and earning, even without the lucrative Chinese tournaments.
But with restrictions now eased, the fare on offer including the various short-format and low-key Championship League events has not drastically increased especially in the early part of the campaign, though there is an invitation-event return to Hong Kong looming.
And so the alternatives on offer are becoming increasingly attractive, with money to be earned, time to kill and bills to be paid. And in Allen’s case – never one comfortable sitting around kicking his heels - he has accepted a wildcard offer to take part in the Ultimate Pool Players Championship taking place over the first weekend of September.
He said: “I can’t wait for this, and a cracking group to make my debut in. Hopefully not my only appearance on the pool scene with all the gaps in the snooker calendar. Thanks to the UP guys for having me.”
It is indeed a testing six-player Group Five for Allen, and includes reigning and six-time world champion Michael Hill, as well as compatriots Ronan McCarthy – a renowned money player – and Emma Cunningham, a four-times women’s world champion.
Snooker star Mark Allen will take part in Group 5 of the Ultimate Pool Players Championship!
๐ฐ Press release here:
#UltimatePool ๐ฑ
Perhaps the best-known snooker great to emerge from a pool background is Mark Selby, the four-time world snooker champion, who is also one to have been the world champion in both codes having won the 2006 eight-ball world Pool Federation title.
Selby, 39, has also taken advantage of some gaps in his diary by recently returning to his pool roots, and will be playing in the Ultimate Pool pairs cup shortly before Allen takes to the baize – partnered by brother-in-law Gareth Potts.
Allen’s good friend and former world snooker champion Shaun Murphy was quick to start the ribbing by commenting: “Pool is for people that can’t play snooker,”, a jibe that led to Allen asking him when he would be appearing himself.
But that throwaway comment cuts through to the nub of the widespread perception that pool is a far easier discipline than snooker; and that snooker players have a better chance of winning at the other code than would pool pros.
When put to the test – and in fairness more snooker players have put themselves out there at the top level away from their comfort zone than pool players - this has certainly not always proved to be the case. A great snooker player will still struggle with key aspects of pool, including the break and jump shots. Practice and regular exposure would definitely help, but as always natural ability plays a part. Chris Melling, an excellent pool player, struggled on the snooker tour.
Trump had a go at the more common nine-ball format used worldwide when he played in the most recent US Open tournament in Atlantic City. His undoubted potting and cue ball skills took him through initially, and he pushed accomplished pool pro South African Jason Theron all the way – only going down 11-10 in a thriller.
The experience gave Trump hope and belief that by dedicating some time and practice to pool, he could make inroads at major events – being all but guaranteed a wildcard spot should he show serious interest.
Allen will no doubt enjoy the experience, but being the fierce competitor he is, the Pistol will want to win and it will be fascinating to see how he gets on in a format that all can relate to.
