Mark Allen, World Snooker Championship Finalist, Labels Chinese City Haikou 'Horrendous'

China Frights - Snooker Lambasts Haikou 'Horrendous'

UK snooker championship finalist Mark Allen has blasted conditions at the Haikou World Open as "horrendous".

The world number 12 aired a number of outbursts on Twitter lamenting his presence in the Chinese city, and may now face further disciplinary action as a consequence of his remarks.

He also deleted a tweet which criticised the local population, but the Press Associtation reported Allen as saying: "Journey a nightmare. People are ignorant. Place stinks. Arena's rubbish, tables poor, food is horrendous. Other than that I love China."

Allen tweets his displeasure:

The 26-year-old's comments on the social networking site have been branded "extremely disappointing" by the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association chairman Jason Ferguson.

An outspoken player on the snooker circuit, the Northern Irishman also tweeted how "bored" he was at a press conference and has previously criticised World Snooker chairman Barry Hearn.

He called on Hearn to resign from his post in December last year after the Leyton Orient Football Club owner's decision to reduce early matches from best-of-17 frames to best-of-11.

He later partly retracted some of his comments:

Allen said: "In the long run, he'll probably do good for snooker, but not for my generation. It's time to let someone else have a go."

Hearn, who took over as chairman in June 2010 after being voted in by a majority of the world's top 64 players, was accused of contradicting himself after he had allegedly pledged not to make changes to major tournaments.

Allen reached the last 16 of the tournament after beating world number eight Judd Trump five frames to four.

The Ulsterman nevertheless tweeted his delight at not having to travel to China again:

Close

What's Hot