Mark Allen is desperate to get his game in tip-top condition for a tilt at this year’s World Championship.
The Antrim ace would love to follow in the footsteps of Alex Higgins and Dennis Taylor by bringing the game’s grandest prize back to Northern Ireland.
It’s been 37 years since Coalisland’s Taylor defeated Steve Davis 18-17 in the famous ‘black-ball final’, which was famously watched by a peak 18.5million viewers.
“I don’t feel like my game’s right where I want it right now,” admitted the world No 10.
“I’m trying to work on a few things on the practice table. There’s a busy spell coming up and it would be nice to have a good run before Sheffield.
“Hopefully I can have a good run at it [the Worlds] this year.”
The Pistol has failed to fire at the sport’s spiritual Sheffield home since reaching his one and only semi-final in 2009.
But the world No 10 is refreshed after solving some of his off-table troubles.
The looming threat hanging over his future in the sport is now gone.
And Allen hopes divorce proceedings and maintenance talks will follow suit sooner rather than later.
“We’re not there yet,” added Allen. "But I am looking forward to going to tournaments again.
“I had that threat about potentially not playing. That’s gone and it’s made me appreciate playing.
“It makes defeats that much easier now. I know it sounds bad, but it makes you realise there are bigger things in the world.”
