BBC snooker presenter Hazel Irvine has apologised to Mark Allen live on air after bringing up his missed black in the semi-final against Wu Yize.
Allen had the chance to book a place in his first World Championship final with a routine shot at the black, however fluffed his lines and went on to lose to Wu.
Sign up for the Sport newsletter
Thank you!
Mark Allen missed a golden opportunity to book a place in his first World Championship final Credit: Reuters
BBC presenter Hazel Irvine apologised after bringing it up in today’s final coverage Credit: Getty
Irvine referenced Allen’s heartbreaking miss in today’s coverage of the World Snooker Championship final.
She said: ” I still cannot watch Mark Allen’s missed black, I am really sorry Mark.”
Before former player and pundit John Parrott added: “Unbelievable. If you are watching pal, I am still hurting for you. I am absolutely am, I have never seen anything like it.”
In the penultimate frame on a drama-filled night, Allen only needed to sink the final black after Wu, 22, had missed the last pink.
‘I DON’T CARE’
Crucible intruder who jumped barriers revealed as adult film star
SWIFTY
Win a Swift Trekker and a Volvo or £90k cash from just 34p with our code
Yet even though the black was on its spot – the type of shot he would have hit successfully a thousand times in the past – the Northern Ireland star could not sink it under the most extreme pressure.
Irvine also mentioned how classy Allen was in his post-match interview: “But the grace in which he took that was extraordinary, wasn’t it?”
Following his gutting loss, Allen said to the BBC: “You don’t deserve to be in a world final if you’re missing balls like that. That was pure pressure to be honest.
“Normally I’m pretty good under pressure but I just didn’t handle it well today. I had two or three good chances to close out the match and didn’t do it, so credit to Wu.
BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS
Hazel Irvine apologised to Mark Allen live on air Credit: BBC
“Even though I’m devastated to lose that match, I think the right person is in the final.
“All credit to Wu, if he doesn’t win this one, he’s going to win many world titles.”
Wu leads Shaun Murphy 13-12 ahead of tonight’s evening session which will conclude the 2026 World Championship.
