Mark Allen Pays the Price

Mark Allen has been given a suspended three-month ban and fined £10,000 for accusing Chinese players of cheating.

After his defeat at the Betfred.com World Championship at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield on April 22, the 26-year-old first accused his opponent Cao Yupeng, said cheating appeared to be a trait of Chinese players and then also named two other Chinese players.

The disciplinary committee of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association considered the case and found Allen to be in breach of their regulations.

Rule 1.1 states: 'Members shall, at all times behave in a proper and correct manner consistent with their status as professional sportsmen.

'Members shall not do anything which is likely to intimidate, offend, insult, humiliate or discriminate against any other person on the grounds of disability, their religion, race, colour or national or ethnic origin, sex or sexual orientation.'

Rule 1.2 states: 'A member shall not make or cause to be made any statement or commit or cause to be committed any act which in the reasonable view of the WPBSA is likely to bring into disrepute the games of snooker and/or billiards.'

In addition to his fine and suspended ban the Northern Irishman, who had previously been fined £1,000 and warned as to his future conduct for comments he made about China and the Chinese people on Twitter, was ordered to pay £1,000 towards the cost of the hearing.

In a statement the WPBSA confirmed: 'This suspension will only come into effect if he commits any new breach of the WPBSA Members Rules that are dealt with by the WPBSA disciplinary process in the next six months.

'He has also been required to undergo media training.

'The WPBSA disciplinary committee consider that this behaviour is unacceptable and offensive to China and the Chinese players. Such behaviour will not be tolerated by the WPBSA.'

Mark Allen Apologises

World number 11 Mark Allen has apologised for the controversial comments that have landed him with a charge from snooker's governing body.

Allen lost 10-6 to Cao Yupeng of China in round one of the World Championship and then alleged that his opponent failed to declare an illegal push shot.

"I overstepped the line when I was heavily influenced by the emotions of a disappointing defeat," Allen said.

"I would like to take this opportunity to apologise to Cao Yupeng."

At a press conference following his defeat by Cao on Sunday, the 26-year-old also made wider allegations that Chinese players on the circuit had been involved in "fouls and blatant cheating".

Allen, who was given 14 days to respond to the charge from the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association, had already caused controversy this year when he described conditions at at China's Haikou World Open, where he went on to win his maiden title, as "horrendous".

He was fined £1,000 for those comments.

"I would also like to apologise to World Snooker," he said after his most recent remarks. "I appreciate the hard work by many people to grow our sport and I am truly horrified to think that my actions could be perceived to be detrimental to this.

"I realise that I need to ensure my off-table behaviour matches the standard and level of professionalism I set for my on-table etiquette. I will return for the 2012-13 season with an improved approach to giving my opinions publicly."

WPBSA chairman Jason Ferguson said the governing body took "very seriously comments made which could be perceived to be directed at a particular nation".

World Snooker chairman Barry Hearn also made clear his displeasure at Allen's remarks.

"To effectively accuse your opponent of cheating is looked on as bringing the game into disrepute," said Hearn.

"Time and time again Mark seems unable to control himself in his public statements. Sometimes I am speechless."

In response to Allen's accusation of dishonesty on the part of Cao, Hearn added: "Players have rules written in their contracts and they are not allowed to say certain things.

"If they do, they are in breach of tournament regulations and will come under a disciplinary process."

Hearn also welcomed the news that Allen has closed his Twitter account. 

"People must realise Twitter is out there in the public domain so you have to be careful what you say.

"Whether there has been a push shot or not is pretty much academic - it's the slant of the comments that Mark made afterwards.

"He had the chance to say to the referee that he believed he had made a mistake, but did not take that opportunity."

Allen could face a fine, suspension or expulsion if found guilty of bringing the sport into disrepute.

The Antrim player, who admits he was "completely outplayed" by the world number 81, claimed Cao failed to declare an illegal push shot when leading 5-4, although no foul was given by referee Paul Collier.

"I'm disgusted. The state of snooker is very sad if it has to be down to that, but it's not the first time," said Allen after the game.

In March, Allen took to his Twitter account to launch an astonishing attack on China.

"Dead cat found this morning," he tweeted. "Any wonder this place stinks. Must be dead cats all round the town."

He went on to win the event and later stood by his comments, insisting: "It would be nicer to play tournaments in the UK, but I have to go where the money is."

In December, he called on World Snooker chairman Hearn to resign after changes were made to the format of major tournaments.

"I've got no doubt he'll tweak the World Championship," Allen said at the time. "The whole tradition of the game is going to pot."

Allen was fined for the Hearn outburst before receiving another financial penalty for his comments at the World Open.

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Dominant Allen Clinches Title

Mark Allen beats Stephen Lee 10-1 in World Open final

Northern Ireland's Mark Allen clinched his first ranking title with a dominant 10-1 victory over Stephen Lee at the World Open final in China.

The Antrim man, facing possible disciplinary action after criticisms of the tournament venue this week, raced into a 5-0 lead against the Englishman.

Allen hit early century breaks of 104 and 127 before finishing off the first session with a run of 123 to lead 8-1.

The world number 10 sealed victory by winning both frames after the restart.

Allen picked up a cheque for £75,000 for his first ranking tournament triumph.

He moved into a 5-0 lead helped by breaks 104, 50, 127 and 53 before Lee opened his account with a run of 67 in frame six.

Lee was further demoralised when Allen came back from requiring a snooker to win the eighth frame and the Northern Irishman hit his third century of the match in the final frame of the first session.

"I played pretty well today. I started out well and put Stephen under pressure," Allen told worldsnooker.com after the match.

"It's been a long time coming as I've been a pro for seven years now. Sometimes you question if you're ever going to win one."

UK Championship finalist Allen made headlines on Thursday when he criticised conditions as "horrendous" after his 5-4 win over Judd Trump.

Allen followed that with more Twitter comments on Friday when he complained about high temperatures in the tournament arena during his win over Mark King.

The Northern Irishman fought back from 5-2 down to beat Mark Selby 6-5 in the semi-finals on Saturday.

Allen and Lee in Haikou Final

Mark Allen earned a dramatic 6-5 semi-final win over Mark Selby at the Haikou World Open in China after winning the final four frames of the contest.

Allen, facing possible disciplinary action after criticism of the tournament venue this week, looked beaten as Selby forged a 5-2 lead.

However, breaks of 80, 79 and 71 helped Allen to force a deciding frame and he clinched victory with a run of 112.

In Sunday's final he will play Stephen Lee, who beat Robert Milkins 6-2.

UK Championship finalist Allen made headlines on Thursday when he criticised conditions as "horrendous" after his 5-4 win over Judd Trump.

Allen followed that with more Twitter comments on Friday when he complained about high temperatures in the tournament arena during his win over Mark King.

However, Allen avoided any further controversy in the immediate aftermath of his win over Selby.

"It's very, very good to get through as any win against Mark Selby is a good win," Allen told worldsnooker.com. 

"But to come from 5-2 behind is even better and the way I played in the last four frames would be worthy of winning any match."

World number one Selby had looked in command, leading 3-1 and then 5-2, compiling a couple of centuries in the process before Allen's comeback.

"Hopefully I can now go on and win the tournament as to have played like that and not go on and win would be very disappointing," added the Antrim left-hander.

Selby put his own disappointment to one side as he praised Allen after the match.

"To be fair to Mark he played very well from 5-2 and I don't think I had a single chance to win the match," added the Leicester man.

"I'm amazed he hasn't won a tournament by now as he's such a great player."

Lee on the other hand, had a far more straight-forward contest as he booked his place in the final.

Despite Milkins taking the first frame, and then squaring the game 2-2 at the mid-session interval, he was unable to stop Lee dominating the final stages with breaks of 85, 61 and 76.

"I'm quietly confident and that comes from playing week in, week out and I wouldn't be here if I didn't think I could win it," said Lee, who will be competing for his fifth ranking title.

"I've played Mark Allen many times and they're always good matches. It's nice to get to a final and Mark will be bang up for his first ranking title."

Milkins, who caused an upset when he dispatched world number six John Higgins in the quarter-final on Friday, admitted that his performance levels had dropped overnight.

"My mindset wasn't very good tonight, even before I went on," he said.

"It was quite hard playing Steve as we've known each a long time but if you're not on top of your game, you don't beat the top players. I can't expect to have won playing like I did.

"I should be higher up the rankings than I am but when you play like I played tonight, it makes you wonder what future you've got."

Allen and Hearn Rest Their Cues

World Snooker supremo Barry Hearn has settled his differences with Mark Allen ahead of the forthcoming Masters.

Allen caused huge controversy last month when he called for Hearn to resign and swore at a press conference.

"We had a good meeting and the chat we had was good at opening his mind as to where he wants to be," Hearn said.

"Does he want to be a superstar in an ever-expanding global sport, or does he want to go back to billiard halls and snooker parlours and eek out a living?"

Last month Hearn termed Allen a "silly little boy" and hinted at legal action following the Northern Irishman's comments at the UK Championship, when he also said "the whole tradition of the game is going to pot".

But Hearn told BBC Sport: "There was never going to be any legal action, I don't sue people, I'm much too busy to spend my time with lawyers.

"What I'm doing may not suit everybody, that's not my concern. My concern is the game in general and where we are going. A game run by committee is generally a game that goes nowhere, someone has to move the game forward."

Asked about the meeting with the world number 10, Hearn added: "I explained my strategy and I think he's a little wiser now.

"Every player must look on decisions that I make as 'how does this affect me personally?' My job is 'how does it affect the game?' It's my way or the highway.

"Mark's prize money this year is probably double what he's earned in the last couple of years so I must be doing something right. We had a very frank and friendly exchange of views and in the end I think he saw my point of view, but time will tell."

Another player to make headlines off the table recently was former world number one Ronnie O'Sullivan, who again threatened to retire following his defeat in the last 16 at the UK Championship last month.

"I look on Ronnie O'Sullivan as another version of Frank Sinatra," Hearn quipped. "He's always retiring but there's always one more concert!

"I think Ronnie is the type of character that falls in love and out of love with snooker on a daily, if not hourly, basis but he's one of the world's great entertainers, the game needs him and I believe also he needs the game.

"My job is to inspire people like Ronnie O'Sullivan to show them the rewards they can earn but I wouldn't really change him.

"He gives me column inches, he gives me notoriety, he gives me entertainment, but there are an awful lot of other players who are going to be challenging the likes of Ronnie O'Sullivan over the next few years. The game can never be reliant on one person."

The Masters, the tournament only open to the elite top 16 which begins on Sunday, will be staged for the first time at Alexandra Palace in London after being at Wembley since 1979.

"It's an iconic London building," Hearn said of the event's new home. "We've had a good few years at Wembley but I think it was time for a move.

"The World Darts Championship has been staged there for the last few years and has been hugely successful and the early signs are that Alexandra Palace is going to be good for snooker as well.

"We judge ourselves on the number of people that take the trouble to come and watch one of our live events and we have already comfortably gone past last year's numbers and are looking for really big crowds creating great atmosphere."

Hearn has ruled out any changes to the format of the World Championship for the time being, although indicated he would remain open to the possibility.

"I've never said the word never," the chairman said. "In the UK Championship two years ago I didn't envisage any changes at all but I have to listen to my customers, the British public. The players are part of it but not the entire story.

"As far as the World Championship is concerned I rather like to think we could leave it exactly as it is forever because I think it is an eccentric piece of British sport, where you have semi-finals lasting three or four days and go to matches and don't see a result.

"It's all quite alien to the way sport is generally now with the demand for fast track results and quick action but you can never say never, any tweaking would depend on what my customers tell me they want."

Hearn also announced on Monday that snooker's World Open, a ranking tournament, will be staged in the city of Haikou on Hainan Island in South China for the next five years. This season's event will runs from 27 February to 4 March.