Ronnie O’Sullivan has tipped Mark Allen to one day become world champion following his remarkable weight-loss transformation. Former Masters champion Allen has followed in the footsteps of Scottish legend John Higgins and Shaun Murphy by shedding the pounds.
World No 10 Allen dropped a whopping four-and-a-half-stone after some advice on his weight from the Rocket. The Antrim ace sat in O’Sullivan’s hotel room for an hour after losing to him at the Crucible.
And a grim warning from a close pal who told him he might miss seeing daughter Harleigh walk down the aisle sprung him into action. Allen showed his vintage class to beat four-time world champion Mark Selby and world No 2 Judd Trump at last week’s British Open.
Read next: Mark Allen happy he's getting 'life in order' despite British Open final agony
The Pistol failed to fire with the trophy in his grasp as a seventh ranking crown and the £100,000 top prize went begging.
But O’Sullivan, who is bidding for glory in this week’s Hong Kong Masters invitational event, said: “It’s good to see Mark Allen doing well.
“He looks fantastic, he looks good in himself. He’s playing some good snooker, he’s a dangerous animal.
“I always said that fella could be world champion, he’s got the best temperament, he’s got the bottle, he’s got the game.
"I think this can be the difference now for him. I just want to say a massive congratulations to him, he’s looking great.
“He’s probably one of three players I enjoy watching play.”
The winner in the eight-person invitational in Hong Kong will pocket £100,000.
Selby opens proceedings against home favourite Marco Fu today, whilst Aussie ace Neil Robertson locks horns with UK champion Zhao Xintong.
O’Sullivan plays against female potter Ng On Yee tomorrow with Juddernaught Trump taking on four-time world champion Higgins in the pick of the quater-finals.
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