Mark Allen graciously accepted defeat after losing the Home Nations Series bonus to Jack Lisowski. He humorously mentioned that he “cried himself to sleep” when the £150,000 prize eluded him.
Lisowski staged an impressive comeback, including a remarkable break of 78 in the crucial frame of his semi-final match against John Higgins, securing his spot in the final and claiming the substantial cash reward.
Initially leading the rankings throughout the Home Nations campaign, Allen missed his chance to clinch the prize at the Welsh Open, allowing one of his competitors to seize the opportunity. Despite winning the English Open in September and reaching the semi-finals of the Northern Ireland and Scottish Opens consecutively, Allen faced an early exit in Wales.
With only four players in contention for the jackpot, Lisowski capitalized on the opening presented to him by Allen’s defeat. While Allen congratulated Lisowski, he expressed his disappointment, stating, “I cried myself to sleep after tweeting that.”
In a tense match, Lisowski rallied from a 3-1 deficit against Higgins, eventually winning 6-5. Lisowski maintained composure under pressure and emphasized his determination to keep potting balls until securing victory and the cash prize.
Reflecting on his winning break, Lisowski mentioned his strategy of continuous potting and staying focused despite challenging shots. Looking ahead to the final against Barry Hawkins, Lisowski acknowledged the need to maintain momentum, noting that winning one match means having to gear up for the next challenge.