Mark Allen has withdrawn from the upcoming British Open and English Open for personal reasons, the World Snooker Tour announced on Wednesday.
The Northern Irishman was due to compete in both events but has now confirmed that he will not take part in either tournament.
Allen’s latest withdrawals mean he will miss five consecutive ranking events on the World Snooker Tour after previously pulling out of the China Open and Wuhan Open.
The Pistol also didn’t enter the campaign-opening Championship League while he skipped the Shanghai Masters invitational as well.
The 40-year-old was due to face Wang Xinbo in the opening round of the British Open in Cheltenham on Monday, August 31.
Instead, Allen has been replaced in the draw by Patrick Whelan.
The former Masters champion was later scheduled to meet Sam Craigie in the opening round of the English Open in Brentwood on Monday, September 7.
Allen was supposed to defend the title he claimed last year, but Craigie will now receive a bye through to the last 32.
Allen’s prolonged absence extends a period away from competitive action that began after his dramatic World Championship semi-final defeat to Wu Yize at the Crucible.
Chasing a maiden Sheffield crown, he led late on but missed an easy match-ball black in the 32nd frame as Wu fought back to force a decider.
The Chinese player eventually won 17-16 before going on to claim his maiden world title in Sheffield.
Allen subsequently missed last month’s Shanghai Masters for the second successive season before withdrawing from both the China Open and Wuhan Open.
He had been due to compete in China but similarly cited personal reasons for his decision to withdraw.
“I am gutted to miss these two events in China and my apologies to the fans and promoters in Taiyuan and Wuhan,” Allen said at the time.
“I love playing in China and appreciate the support we always get there, but there are personal reasons why I can’t make it this time.”
“I hope to be back playing in China later this season.”
His latest withdrawals mean Allen will now miss all of the Championship League, Shanghai Masters, China Open, Wuhan Open, British Open, and English Open during the early stages of the 2026/27 campaign.
The current world number 13’s next scheduled opportunity to return to competitive action comes at the Shenzhen Open at the end of September.
The extended absence means he will have gone several months without a competitive match by the time he next appears on the World Snooker Tour.
Allen has won 12 ranking titles during his career and reached the top of the world rankings in 2024.
His most recent ranking title came at the English Open in 2025 where he beat Zhou Yuelong in a dramatic final that went the distance.
Featured photo credit: WST
