'He was having some visual problems' - Chris Henry provides insights into working relationship with English Open finalist Mark Allen
Updated 21/09/2025 at 15:51 GMT+1
Mark Allen is doing battle with Zhou Yuelong in the final of the English Open at the Brentwood Centre in Essex. Watching on in the TNT Sports studio was Chris Henry, and the coach spoke about his link up with Allen and the things they have been working on. Watch and stream top snooker action, including the English Open, live and on demand on TNT Sports and discovery+.
Allen flukes red, misses black and immediately concedes frame
Video credit: TNT Sports
Chris Henry has spoken to TNT Sports about the work he has been doing with Mark Allen.
Former UK and Masters champion Allen had a low-key time in the 2024/25 season compared to his efforts in previous campaigns, and he sought out revered coach Henry for help.
The Northern Irishman started last season as world No. 1 but has slipped to No. 10 in the rankings.
Allen said earlier this week that he was seeing positive signs from working with Henry, despite admitting to not playing too well at the English Open.
"I feel like I need to get as much time on the table with him as I can," Allen told TNT Sports.
"I am not happy with where my game is at, but I do feel like I am going in the right direction and I feel the work with Chris is paying off. Hopefully, it is a sign of big things to come.
"The game is not always easy and you have to win ugly sometimes. It would be nice to start playing well."
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Allen’s battling qualities were on display at the Brentwood Centre in Essex, as he emerged on the right end of deciding frames to beat Stuart Bingham, Ding Junhui, Elliot Slessor and Jak Jones to set up a meeting in the final with Zhou Yuelong.
After another late-night finish in beating Jones, Allen showed no signs of tiredness as he began the final in excellent fettle - knocking in a total clearance of 132 to take the opening frame.
Allen continued to play good snooker in the opening session, as he seized on mistakes from Zhou to open up a 3-1 lead at the interval.
Henry was watching on from the TNT Sports studio, and spoke about the things he had been working on with Allen.
"Mark called me three or four months ago," Henry said. "He said he was having a few problems.
"We were able to establish that he was having some visual problems, incoordination, so we have been working on that and things are looking good."
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‘You cannot get better than that’ - Allen opens final with total clearance
Video credit: TNT Sports
Henry has worked with a host of figures at the top level, and famously had both players in the World Championship final when Shaun Murphy faced Mark Selby at the Crucible in 2021.
He revealed the thought process for when he has two players from his stable in direct competition.
"We do splits equally, and one important aspect is we don’t talk about strategy," Henry said.
"I might have some inside information on strategy, so we don’t go into that. It is all about me helping those players perform at their best."
The English Open final will play to a conclusion on Sunday night, with the victor in the race to nine frames getting their hands on the Steve Davis Trophy for the first time.
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Watch and stream top snooker action, including the English Open, live and on demand on TNT Sports and discovery+
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