In the other, former partner Reanne Evans, a snooker player from the United Kingdom. Will red affect them both then?

Snooker is known for its storied rivalries, including that between Jimmy “Whirlwind” White and Stephen “Iceman” Hendry and Alex “Hurricane” Higgins and Steve “Interesting” Davis.

But tonight, at Leicester’s Morningside Arena for the British Open, all eyes will be on Mark “The Pistol” Allen and his first-round opponent, none other than 12-time world champion Reanne Evans, also known as “The Ex.”

In addition to being a highly anticipated Battle of the Sexes in a male-dominated sport where women have only lately been permitted to participate at the highest levels with males, there may also be some discreet score-settling to heighten the competitiveness.

After three years together, the former amorous couple called it quits with much acrimony in 2008. However, rumors of a fight over child support for their now-14-year-old daughter have further soured the already chilly relationship between the 35-year-old Allen and the 34-year-old Evans.

But tonight, at Leicester’s Morningside Arena in the British Open, all eyes will be on Mark “The Pistol” Allen (pictured) and his first round opponent, none other than 12-time women’s snooker world champion Reanne Evans, also known as “The Ex.”
This might be difficult because Northern Irishman Allen, who is now divorcing his wife Kyla McGuigan and was declared bankrupt in May of this year, is ranked 12th in the world and has won an estimated £3.3 million in snooker prize money. (The pair also has a daughter; they were married in 2013).

That means there will be some really unpleasant situations today.

“I genuinely don’t believe that anything comparable has ever occurred in professional sports at this caliber,”

Controversially, the event organizers obliged, and Evans, who was only able to return to the studio just before the broadcast, was reported to have been left feeling ’embarrassed’ and disturbed by the experience.

Regarding the controversy, Allen subsequently stated: “Players have requested that individuals be taken out while they’re rehearsing before a game.” Why there is a big deal over this one is beyond me.

That’s why it makes sense that today’s battle over the green baize is viewed by many as a grudge fight, capital ‘G’.

After three years together, the former amorous couple called it quits with much acrimony in 2008. However, rumors of a fight over child support for their now-14-year-old daughter have further soured the already chilly relationship between the 35-year-old Allen and the 34-year-old Evans. Shown: In 2007, Mark Allen and Reanne Evans accompanied their daughter.
One of the first women to compete on the main British Open circuit, Evans was granted an MBE in 2020. She and Hong Kong player Ng On-yee were given a two-year professional card on the tour due to their No. 1 rankings.

But her ex did not take kindly to her inclusion, sneering at the time, ‘I’m not really sure what the two ladies would add.’

The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association’s head, Jason Ferguson, maintained that both players ‘had offered reassurances that should they meet in a competition they would behave themselves properly, and respect the opponent like any other player’.

Nevertheless, when it was revealed that the ex-partners would be competing against one another in today’s opening round, there were gasps of surprise. Some even speculated that Allen would even decide to cancel the tour entirely rather than sit across from his ex-girlfriend.

Thus, one can only speculate about the additional psychological strain on both players as they prepare for what promises to be a historically significant encounter.

Allen was the overwhelming favorite to win last night with 80-1 odds, while Evans was only available at 14-1. Given their tense relationship, the top female snooker player in Britain must undoubtedly be more motivated to win.

The 35-year-old Reanne Evans, a record 12-time women’s world champion, will face her child’s father, Mark Allen.
If not her former partner, then maybe six-time world champion Steve Davis, who stated in a 2014 interview with BBC World Service’s Sports Hour that women lacked ‘that single-minded commitment in something that must be acknowledged is a total waste of time — attempting to drop snooker balls into pockets with a pointed stick’.

Evans may disagree, stating that it is still her goal to be eligible to compete in a World Snooker Championship at the Crucible. Evans won her maiden women’s world champion title at seven and a half months pregnant with her daughter, taking home just £800 in prize money as opposed to the men’s £200,000.

She remembered that first big tournament victory, saying, “Well, the bump was quite large but the doctors said there was no reason why I couldn’t play if I felt all right.” A couple of the photos seemed unnatural. I was barely able to break off! My legs began to swell at the end, and I was absolutely broken.

Undoubtedly, this encounter between the former pair will be the first time Allen and Evans—who claims to have grown up in a snooker-loving family—have faced off against one another since their more carefree practice sessions as a young couple.

Evans, a resident of Dudley in the West Midlands, discussed how difficult it was to make a livelihood as.

Women’s snooker has traditionally been the underdog vying for attention, while men’s snooker has drawn large sponsorship checks and TV partnerships.

“I’m fortunate to have Mark in my life; he lifts my spirits.” At times, finding motivation can be so difficult that it seems impossible to keep going. We practice together, and I have indeed defeated him, Evans said.

Allen went on to say, “We’re both very competitive.” We play boyfriend and girlfriend all the time, and we take it extremely seriously.

Reanne has defeated me more times than I believe she will confess, but I’m not ashamed to say it!

I can joke with her about it, even though she always makes me remember it.

Considering the challenges that followed their separation thirteen years ago, it would seem safe to assume that neither team will be laughing after today’s match.

Evans has talked about the financial hardships she had as a single mother trying to rise from amateur women’s snooker to the top. ‘I have won the women’ world title for the previous nine years and earned absolutely nothing for it,’ she once declared. The straightforward query was, “Can I continue doing this and not making any money?”

In the meanwhile, Allen has discussed his post-breakup sadness, which was made worse by the demands of playing professional snooker and the lengthy tours that kept him from.

Speaking with a doctor, I realized it’s been coming for me for a long time,’ Allen remarked in 2011, following a string of underwhelming performances that finished with a World Championship comeback match. It has just truly surfaced in the past few months, but at least I’m attempting to address it at this point.

“At and beyond the table” I’m a warrior, and I refuse to surrender on my life as it will have an impact on everything. I was attempting to avoid it, shutting myself up rather than being open as I ought to have been. I’m beginning to understand that you can’t get near.

It’s not a pleasant aspect, but I’ve had to cope with the challenges in communicating with our daughter. I knew I wouldn’t see Reanne as often now that we’re not together, but I didn’t anticipate it would be as difficult as it is.

Snooker enthusiasts will undoubtedly never have seen a match quite like this one. Evans will be in her tight corner and Allen in hers. All parties will have their advocates, but the crucial inquiry is: whoever will their daughter like to prevail?