Snooker star Mark Allen withdraws from two further events due to personal reasons
The World Snooker Tour has confirmed that Mark Allen has withdrawn from the British Open and English Open due to personal reasons.
In the British Open in Cheltenham, world number 13 Allen was due to face Wang Xinbo in the opening round on Monday, August 31. Instead, he will be replaced in the draw by Patrick Whelan.
Meanwhile, in the English Open in Brentwood, Allen was due to meet Sam Craigie on Monday, September 7 but Craigie will now receive a bye to the last 32.
Allen is the reigning English Open champion after beating Zhou Yeulong in a deciding frame last year.
It'll mark the fifth successive ranking event that former Masters and UK champion Allen has missed this season after previously withdrawing from the Championship League.
He also pulled out of the recent China Open and Wuhan Open, as well as skipping out the Shanghai Masters invitational event.
Allen said about missing the China Open and Wuhan Open: "I am gutted to miss these two events in China and my apologies to the fans and promoters in Taiyuan and Wuhan.
"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."
Allen’s last professional match on the circuit was at the World Championship in May when he missed a match-ball black in the penultimate frame as he was heartbreakingly beaten by Wu Yize at the semi-final stage in Sheffield.