Snooker star Mark Allen sheds FOUR STONE in stunning five-month transformation after chat with Ronnie O’Sullivan
SLIMLINE Mark Allen has shed over FOUR stone in five months after being warned he might not be around to walk his daughter down the aisle.
The Pistol weighed 19st when he lost to Ronnie O’Sullivan in the second round of the World Snooker Championship in April.
A conversation with the Rocket sparked a major lifestyle overhaul in mid May, which saw him ditch the booze, eat healthily and cut back on big portions.
Another discussion with a close pal also shook him up because he was told if he carried on this destructive path he would find himself in an early grave.
Allen, 36, is now just over 14st and he said: “I’m happier in my appearance. I don’t want to do bad things to myself when I look in the mirror.
“I need to lose more weight. I’m not fighting fit yet.
READ MORE IN SNOOKER
“Before I started my diet, I was 19.1 stone which is really embarrassing to say for someone of my height and age. I’m now 14 stone 10 pounds.
“I have cut out all the fun stuff. Even if I do eat bad food, I eat so little of it. I try to cut out carbs as much as possible. Stick to stuff high in protein and fat.
“It has been hard work but I have been disciplined. I haven’t gone cold turkey like with previous diets.
“I only drank shorts when I went out drinking. Not massive calories. I’m not a massive drinker anyway. So I don’t particularly miss it.
Most read in Other Sports
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST NEW CUSTOMER SIGN UP DEALS
“One of my very closest friends said to me: ‘If you keep going the way you’re going Mark, you won’t be here to walk Harleigh down the aisle.’ That was tough to hear but probably what I needed to hear.”
Allen scored a 133 break as he beat China’s Li Hang 4-1 in the British Open second round yesterday.
His escape in the opening frame — he required FIVE cushions to hit the yellow — became a popular hit on social media and was described by the player as “probably one of the best ever shots I have ever played”.
The Northern Ireland star says he has had to change his cue action because he does not have a big belly in the way anymore.
I’m so used to going round my belly. Now I’m on a straighter path
Mark Allen
He said: “I’m having to adapt on the table. It’s probably not perceptive to those watching from the sides. But I can feel it myself.
“I’m not quite comfortable in my cueing yet as I have cueing on a different path.
“I’m so used to going round my belly. Now I’m on a straighter path. It affects your alignment and aim. It has taken time.”
Judd Trump looks like the man to beat in Milton Keynes this week as he crushed Scotland’s Dean Young 4-0.