Mark Allen showed sportsmanship in defeat after losing the Home Nations Series bonus to Jack Lisowski. He humorously mentioned how he “cried himself to sleep” when the £150,000 prize slipped through his fingers.
Lisowski staged a remarkable comeback, highlighted by a break of 78 in the crucial frame against John Higgins, securing his spot in the final and claiming the substantial cash reward.
Initially leading the rankings throughout the Home Nations campaign, Allen missed his chance to secure the prize when he stumbled at the Welsh Open, suffering an early exit at the hands of David Grace.
Despite Allen’s commendable performances at the English Open and reaching the semifinals in the Northern Ireland and Scottish Opens, his campaign ended abruptly in Wales, allowing Lisowski to seize the opportunity to claim the jackpot.
Acknowledging Lisowski’s achievement, Allen took to social media to congratulate him while expressing his disappointment at narrowly missing out on the bonus yet again.
In a tense match against Higgins, Lisowski rallied from behind to secure a victory in the deciding frame, demonstrating his composure under pressure. He emphasized his focus on consistently potting balls until sealing the win and the cash prize.
Looking ahead to the final showdown against Barry Hawkins, Lisowski reflected on the need to maintain momentum and remain focused on the task at hand, emphasizing the competitive nature of the sport.