Mark Allen: I don’t like Mark Joyce...he is a d**k on and off the table
MARK ALLEN has inflamed snooker's most bitter grudge match ahead of his Northern Ireland Open clash with Mark Joyce - by claiming his rival's mum doesn't even like him.
Mark Allen is not a fan of Mark Joyce
Allen has lost four of their five matches and expects 200 supporters to be cheering him on.
He said: “I don’t like Mark Joyce, basically he is a d**k, on and off the table, I doubt even his mum likes him."
Mark Joyce in action at the China Open
But Allen, 30, is desperate to get the job done on home soil.
He added: “I’ve always enjoyed playing in front of a home crowd.
“It does bring added pressure, but it’s always something I’ve thrived on.
Mark Allen and Mark Joyce will lock horns at the Northern Ireland Open
“It depends on the personality. I know John Higgins hates playing in Scotland because he feels there’s too much pressure, while some of the Welsh boys love playing in Cardiff.
“I like it because fans here know what I’m capable of. I have nothing to prove to them, so I can go out and relax
“You can’t put too much pressure on yourself, because you might fall flat on your face, but I’d like to think I can go really deep and give the home crowd something to shout about.”