Allen beats O'Sullivan & Brecel to win Riyadh title

The £250,000 prize is the joint-largest of Allen's career, equalling the reward for his 2022 UK Championship win

Mark Allen beat Luca Brecel to win the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship and claim his first title of the season.

Northern Ireland's Allen beat defending champion Ronnie O'Sullivan 4-2 in the semi-final before outplaying Belgium's Brecel in the final later on Friday in a 5-1 victory.

"I was very nervous in the last few balls. I am happy to get over the line," Allen said.

"You are never there until you're there. I played some good stuff all week."

Brecel, the 2022 world champion who beat Mark Williams 4-2 in his semi-final, won the opening frame of the final but Allen levelled with a 104 clearance.

A break of 109 in the fourth put Allen 3-1 up and he took the next two after the interval to win and take the £250,000 prize pot.

Allen's semi-final against O'Sullivan was more competitive - with a break of 134 sealing victory.

Having taken the first frame, O'Sullivan missed a red in the second, which sparked a turnaround for Allen, who took a 3-1 lead.

O'Sullivan cut his deficit by winning the fifth but Allen's clearance ended the seven-time world champion's run.