Table at British Open 'should be burned' - Allen

Mark Allen beat Gary Wilson 4-3 at the British Open on Monday

Mark Allen has branded conditions at the British Open "absolutely embarrassing" and said the table on which he beat Gary Wilson should be "burned".

The world number three from Northern Ireland overcame Wilson by a score of 4-3 but was left frustrated at the match being staged on table two at the Centaur in Cheltenham.

"The conditions out there are absolutely embarrassing," Allen told ITV.

"It's some of the worst weather outside and they've left the massive transport doors open. It's so cold, it's so humid, out there. 

"The table needs to be burned."

Allen said it was "not good enough" for a tournament like the British Open.

"The cushions are unplayable, uncontrollable," he said. "It was heavy. The speed was decent.

"There are new guys doing the tables this year and they're clearly not up to it.

"I pride myself on preparing properly for tournaments with good conditions and you turn up and you don't get them. It's not good enough."

Allen, who was runner up at the British Open in 2022, will face Aaron Hill in the next round, but the 38-year-old does not expect his complaints to have any impact.

"I complain every single tournament, fill in table report sheets, match report sheets and nothing ever changes," he added.

A spokesperson for World Snooker Tour [WST] told BBC Sport: "Our table-fitting team has been consistent for some time and works to the highest standards.

"The weather in the area has seen unprecedented rainfall over the last couple of days which can negatively influence the conditions.

"We have raised the issue of an open door with the venue."

Allen later said on his X account that he would like to apologise to interviewer Rob Walker for his outburst, adding: “My anger wasn't directed at him and he definitely deserved a better interview. My frustrations were 100% at the conditions which frankly haven't been anywhere near good enough this season."