ALLENTS THING IT TO WIN IT

Mark has shed the pounds aNd Now hopes to end his ong weight for World glory

- JOSHUA PECK

MARK ALLEN is on his own lost-and-found mission.

The world No.3 has lost a whopping six-and-a-half stone in weight in recent months and now wants to find the secret to Sheffield success.

Allen's weight loss has coincided with a remarkable run of form, though it has not yet come to fruition at the Crucible.

In 17 previous visits to the home of snooker, Allen has made it to the last eight or further on only five occasions.

But, having battled his way to victory at February's Players Championship, the Northern Irishman is keen to turn his Crucible CV around when the World Championship starts on Saturday.

"My record there is a strange one because I like the venue," Allen said. "I like the atmosphere and the history attached to the tournament.

"The bottom line is I haven't played well enough. You can prepare all you want, and you can think you're doing the right things, and then turn up and don't play well on the day in Sheffield.