Mark Allen’s body transformation after split from snooker star girlfriend | Other | Sport
Mark Allen in action at the World Snooker Championship. (Image: Getty Images)
Mark Allen is once again commanding attention at the World Snooker Championship, though it isn’t solely his displays on the baize that have drawn interest in recent years. The Northern Irishman has battled his way into the semi-finals at the Crucible after defeating Barry Hawkins, setting up a last-four encounter with Wu Yize in a gruelling best-of-33-frames contest in Sheffield.
A former world No.1 and Triple Crown winner, the 36-year-old has enjoyed a distinguished career, yet his journey away from the table has proved equally eventful — encompassing a remarkable physical transformation, personal hardships and financial difficulties.
Here’s a closer look at the man known as ‘The Pistol’.
Allen’s revival in recent seasons has gone hand in hand with an extraordinary lifestyle overhaul, with the Northern Irishman shedding more than six stone in a stunning body transformation.
Long candid about his battles with weight and fitness earlier in his career, Allen has attributed his improved performances and outlook to embracing a healthier routine — something that has quite literally transformed his game.
“I just feel healthier in myself and more positive in the way I look,” he previously told Express Sport. “I’m not there worrying ‘Is my shirt coming out, can people see things they shouldn’t be seeing?'”
The change hasn’t just been physical. Allen admitted it took time to adapt to competing in a completely different body after losing around six-and-a-half stone at one stage.
“I just try to concentrate on playing snooker,” he added. “It took me a bit of an adjustment period. It was a dramatic weight loss… it was a different body when you’re playing.”
Now trimmer and more focused, Allen has enjoyed the rewards on the baize, supplementing his 2018 Masters and 2022 UK Championship triumphs with improved consistency at the elite level.
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Split from snooker star partner
Beyond the sport, Allen has also faced well-publicised personal struggles, notably concerning his relationship with fellow professional Reanne Evans.
The former couple, who have a daughter together, Lauren, split in 2008 and became locked in a protracted dispute over child maintenance – a matter Allen confessed has taken its toll on him.
“Without going into all the details, the Reanne situation is still ongoing and I’d love nothing more than to get that sorted and then we could all move on,” he said after winning the UK Championship in 2022.
Mark Allen in his earlier playing days. (Image: Getty Images)
“Because it isn’t nice. You come to tournaments and we aren’t even saying hello and we have a child together.”
Their fractured relationship was thrown into sharp relief during awkward scenes at the 2021 British Open, when Evans rejected Allen’s offer of a pre-match fist bump ahead of their encounter – labelled the ‘Battle of the Exes’.
Both subsequently acknowledged how challenging the meeting had been, despite Allen securing a final-frame triumph. In more recent times, Allen has found happiness once more and is currently in a relationship with Sara Herald, with the pair becoming engaged earlier this year.
Net worth after bankruptcy
Despite pocketing millions throughout his career, Allen’s story has also been marked by significant financial turmoil.
The former world No.1, who has accumulated more than £5million in prize money, was declared bankrupt in January 2021 after acknowledging he had overspent throughout his professional life.
“I just overspent in every aspect of my life,” he said at the time. “Bankruptcy was the only choice.”
Reanne Evans snubbed Allen ahead of their match in 2021 (Image: WST)
Reflecting on his predicament, Allen admitted he had neglected to plan ahead despite his considerable earnings.
“It’s easy to read that I made £3.5m on the table, but I spent it as fast as it was coming in,” he admitted. “I didn’t put anything aside for a rainy day.”
His financial woes were further compounded by his divorce from ex-wife Kyla McGuigan in 2020, with mounting legal costs adding to the burden.
“If I could go back, I would be more sensible with money,” he said. “Everything just snowballed.”
Yet recent years have brought a remarkable turnaround. By 2024, Allen revealed he had returned to a stable position both financially and mentally.
“Things are going really well,” he said. “My private life is good, and financially I’m in a better place… I’m just looking forward to playing more than I was.”
