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Former world No. 1 Mark Allen has made a stunning comeback, claiming the Helsinki International Cup title in Finland after a disappointing run at the Crucible. The Northern Irishman overcame a slow start to dominate the final, beating Zhang Anda 6-3.

Allen’s journey to the title was nothing short of remarkable. After opening his campaign with a 4-2 win over world No. 2 Kyren Wilson, he edged defending champion Ali Carter 5-4 in the semi-finals. Despite trailing 3-0 in the final, Allen produced an incredible sequence of breaks, including 79, 105, 74, 104, and 72, to reel off six straight frames and claim the title.

*The Road to Victory*

– *Quarter-finals*: Mark Allen defeated Kyren Wilson 4-2, while Zhang Anda beat Judd Trump 4-1.
– *Semi-finals*: Allen edged Ali Carter 5-4 in a thrilling match, while Zhang Anda defeated Mark Williams 5-3.
– *Final*: Mark Allen came from 3-0 down to beat Zhang Anda 6-3, claiming the title and a share of the £210,000 prize fund.

*Allen’s Form*

The win marks a significant turnaround for Allen, who was knocked out of the World Championship in the last 16 by Chris Wakelin despite making a maximum 147 break. The former world No. 1 will look to carry his scoring form into the new season, which begins next month with the qualifiers for the Wuhan Open.

*Tournament Highlights*

– *Centuries*: Allen made five centuries throughout the tournament, including three in his semi-final win over Carter (140, 133, and 101).
– *Attendance*: The eight-man tournament drew sell-out crowds of 1,400 at the House of Culture in Helsinki.
– *Snooker Shoot Event*: The tournament was supported by a Snooker Shoot event won by Williams on Friday night.

With this win, Allen has proven his resilience and skill, bouncing back from disappointment to claim a prestigious title. As the new season approaches, fans can expect big things from the Northern Irishman.¹