Snooker legend Dennis Taylor believes it’s about time the World Championship returned to Northern Ireland.
Taylor, 74, was the last player from the country to win the sport’s biggest prize when he beat Steve Davis 18-17 in the famous black-ball final, which was watched by a staggering 18.5million people, in 1985.
Hurricane Alex Higgins is the only other Northern Irishman to have won the world title after his triumphs in 1972 and 1982.
Read more: Mark Allen carrying daughter's inspiration on his wrist for world title bid
But UK champion Mark Allen is back into the semi-finals of this year’s edition after a painful 14-year wait, and leads Mark Selby 5-3 after Thursday night's opening session.
And the Antrim ace is desperate to finally get his hands on the treasured trophy and join his compatriots in the country’s sporting folklore.
Allen, 37, would become only the 12th player in the sport’s history to complete the famous Triple Crown; World Championship, UK Championship and Masters - something even Taylor didn’t achieve.
“It’s time we had another snooker world champion from Northern Ireland,” admitted Taylor.
“It would be great for Mark to take the trophy back to Northern Ireland.
“I remember in 2018 back at the Masters wishing him all the best because I was the last one to win the Masters way back in 1987.
“He tells me not to tip him! I did an interview before the tournament and said ‘I’m not going to tip Mark Allen this year but I hope he wins it'.
"He’s got every chance of winning his first World Championship.
“That gives him the chance to win the Triple Crown, which would be fantastic; the UKs, the Masters and the one that he wants, the one that he would have dreamt of his whole career winning the world title.
“Mark’s got a terrific following in Northern Ireland. He’s been the man of the season.
“I know he was over the moon to retain the Northern Ireland Open. To lift the UK Championship was a big win for him, but this is the big one, this is the one everybody dreams about winning here at the Crucible Theatre.
“It’s a long time since he’s been to the one-table situation. Fourteen years is an incredible amount of time for a player like Mark.
“Mark will relish playing here again and he’s in with a great shout now that Ronnie O’Sullivan is out.”
Taylor fondly remembers the hero’s welcome he received when he returned home as world champion.
And the Northern Irish icon believes Allen will get a brilliant welcome if he completes the job.
“The people of Northern Ireland love a champion,” added Taylor.
“It was remarkable what happened to me when I won it. I’ll never forget it as long as I live.
“They’ll definitely organise something for Mark if he wins it because it’s some achievement winning the World Championship.
“I had an exhibition to do at the Shankhill Leisure Centre in Belfast. A wee catholic boy from Coalisland going to the Shankhill, but I’d been used to playing in all sections of the community throughout my career.
“They never had so many people in the town when I returned to Coalisland. It was jammed full of people from all denominations and I’m sure it would be similar for Mark, if he could lift the World Championship.”
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