Mark “The Pistol” Allen has once again lived up to his nickname, staging a phenomenal rally in the final to defeat Zhou Yuelong 9-8 in a historic final-frame decider at the 2025 BetVictor English Open. The Northern Irishman collected the $\textsterling$100,000 winner’s prize, his first English Open crown, and the 12th ranking title of his career.
The final, held at the Brentwood Centre, was a marathon contest that stretched over seven hours and delivered high drama until the very last ball.
It looked like a comfortable afternoon for the former World No. 1. Allen started with a spectacular 132 century break in the first frame and quickly built a commanding 6-2 lead heading into the evening session.
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However, the night saw a completely different match emerge. Zhou Yuelong, appearing in his fourth ranking final and still seeking his maiden crown, mounted an unbelievable comeback. The young Chinese star played with grit and precision, reducing the deficit and stealing a crucial frame with a counter-clearance of 72 after Allen had missed a routine shot on a break of 60.
Zhou’s momentum was unstoppable, as he rattled off five consecutive frames to not only erase the four-frame deficit but take the lead for the first time in the match, moving to the hill at 8-7.
Staring down the barrel of a humiliating defeat, Allen showed the composure and tenacity that has defined his career.
Restoring Parity: “The Pistol” stopped the rot with a crucial run of 71 to force a snooker in Frame 16. Despite Zhou’s best efforts to keep the frame alive, a mistake allowed Allen to clear the colours and force a dramatic 8-8 decider. This result made history, marking the first time that three consecutive ranking event finals had gone to a deciding frame.
Sealing the Title: In the 17th frame, Allen was the first to gain control, crafting a vital break of 61. Though he missed a blue to complete the clearance, Zhou’s ensuing awkward shot attempt went awry, handing Allen the championship.
The Pistol Hits His Target: The victory, Allen’s first since the Players Championship in February 2024, moves him level with Shaun Murphy on the all-time list of ranking event winners with 12 titles.
A relieved Allen admitted he was “absolutely shattered” after a week that saw him pull off multiple spectacular comebacks, including winning from 3-0 down against Ding Junhui and 4-0 down against Elliot Slessor.
“At 8-7 I felt something and realised it was my chance to find a bit of form,” Allen told the World Snooker Tour. “I think other people know now that I am never beat. That is worth a frame itself sometimes.”
For Zhou, the defeat was arguably the cruelest of his four ranking final losses, but his spirited display in the second session proved he is edging closer to that elusive first title.