Snooker world erupts as ex-couple face off in 'horrible' drama

Snooker player Mark Allen says having to play his ex-partner Reanne Evans was a "horrible" feeling after the Northern Irishman reigned supreme in one of sport's ultimate grudge battles.

Allen ground past former his former partner 3-2 to win the grudge-match battle of the exes at the British Open.

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The World No.10 clung on despite a nervy performance to edge out his ex-partner Evans, the 12-time women’s world champion.

The prickly nature of the contest was typified by a "frosty" pre-match moment where Evans appeared to snub the offer of a fist bump from her ex.

After the match, Evans attempted to downplay the fist bump snub by claiming she was just focused on her own game.

“I was told at the start there were no handshakes or anything, and just in my head I was visualising the start of the match so I just went straight to the table.

“I’m proud I’m competing, it’s just a little bit of experience and hopefully in a few more matches I might get that win.

“No one wanted that match did they? But you have to respect that top players do what they do and it’s sport, we’re in the same sport so it’s always going to happen.”

The extraordinary match-up was must-watch viewing for the snooker world, who couldn't get enough of the battle between the exes.

Mark Allen wins 'horrible' contest

Allen's deciding-frame 68 sealed his win a match that he revealed he wouldn't want to repeat anytime soon.

“It was horrible, it’s not something I want to really go through too often, but we had to try and remain as professional as possible and I think I did that very well,” he said. “I think I can hold my head very high with the way I handled it out there.”

Evans and Allen split acrimoniously in 2008, and world number 10 Allen has previously been critical of women joining the professional World Snooker Tour.

Allen also asked for Evans to be removed from a TV studio next to his practice table at the World Championships in April, claiming her presence was a distraction.

Quizzed about the fist-bump snub, Allen would only say: “I’d rather not answer that one.

“I didn’t play my best but I thought I treated it like any other match, I showed respect where respect was due.

“I thought Reanne played really, really well the first three-and-a-half frames and was just unfortunate with a cannon not to go on and win 3-1. But I just hung in there and then made a one-visit in the last.”

with agencies

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