Mark Allen, a native of Northern Ireland, says he is inspired by Rory McIlroy’s dramatic Masters victory in a bid to win the first World Snooker Championship at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.
Allen has previously won the highly regarded Triple Crown, the Masters and the UK Championship, but he has yet to receive the biggest prize in the sport.
The 39-year-old says he wants to emulate McIlroy, who won at Augusta last weekend and won his first of four major championships.
“There are a lot of comparisons. This is my 19th Crucible, and that was Rory’s [16th] Masters. One more tournament away from winning the Triple Crown and the Grand Slam, Allen said.
I was glued to the ups, downs, drama, and every shot of the Masters final round that I watched on Sunday. He has won it, he has lost it, he has lost it once more, and he has lost it. You can see what it meant to him to win in a play-off.
I’ll try to draw as much inspiration from him as I can. If not this year, I’ll return the following year for more. I’ll just keep working hard, hoping that Rory’s door will open for me like it did for Rory.
Allen says he will approach snooker’s biggest stage with a similar positive mindset to McIlroy’s.
He claimed in his interviews that he always believed he had the edge to win in that area. He continued to make that claim in his interviews.
I’ve not had enough play.
Allen joins the Crucible after a largely disappointing season that saw him fall from first place in the world rankings after the previous year’s event to eighth in the standings.
The Antrim cueman made his first five semi-final appearances in December, including the UK Championship and the Masters, despite frequently finding himself in trouble for his best form. He did, however, win the lucrative Riyadh Season Championship invitational tournament.
“The season hasn’t been good,” he said. I can’t explain why I’ve been working as hard as I always do; simply put, I’ve not played well enough, he said.
“I know I won out in Saudi, but I don’t feel like my game is as good as I would like it to be,” says the author, “but this isn’t a bad place to try to rectify that.”
You can see how bad Kyren [Wilson] had last year; he had a better year than I did, but he won the world championship after 17 days at Sheffield.
I still think it will occur, he said.
Images courtesy of Getty
Allen has already accumulated two World Championship titles, but he now believes he has more of the ingredients for potential success to add to his already impressive career resume.
“You need to get the most out of your bad sessions, be mentally strong, pot a few balls at the right times, and have some luck along the way to win.”
In 17 days, you don’t need to play phenomenal snooker. You’ll never do that, ever. Just compete, be patient, and you’ll find some form soon.
“All you can do is prepare as well as you can prepare, which I always do. Working with the sports psychologist and working hard at the practice table help me a little bit get in shape.
Not that I’m not attempting to improve, I’m just trying. I don’t know what will happen, just that it hasn’t yet.
On Sunday, Allen will face Fan Zhengyi, the world number 46 player who is one of the top 10 Chinese players in the 32-player field.
When they met in 2023 at the same time, the county Antrim player defeated the 24-year-old 10-5.
“Fan is a very good player,” the saying goes. I’ll need to try and compete very well because he won the European Masters a few years ago and has since become a little quieter.
Mark Allen, a native of Northern Ireland, says he is inspired by Rory McIlroy’s dramatic Masters victory in a bid to win the first World Snooker Championship at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.
Allen has previously won the highly regarded Triple Crown, the Masters and the UK Championship, but he has yet to receive the biggest prize in the sport.
The 39-year-old says he wants to emulate McIlroy, who won at Augusta last weekend and won his first of four major championships.
“There are a lot of comparisons. This is my 19th Crucible, and that was Rory’s [16th] Masters. One more tournament away from winning the Triple Crown and the Grand Slam, Allen said.
I was glued to the ups, downs, drama, and every shot of the Masters final round that I watched on Sunday. He has won it, he has lost it, he has lost it once more, and he has lost it. You can see what it meant to him to win in a play-off.
I’ll try to draw as much inspiration from him as I can. If not this year, I’ll return the following year for more. I’ll just keep working hard, hoping that Rory’s door will open for me like it did for Rory.
Allen says he will approach snooker’s biggest stage with a similar positive mindset to McIlroy’s.
He claimed in his interviews that he always believed he had the edge to win in that area. He continued to make that claim in his interviews.
I’ve not had enough play.
Allen joins the Crucible after a largely disappointing season that saw him fall from first place in the world rankings after the previous year’s event to eighth in the standings.
The Antrim cueman made his first five semi-final appearances in December, including the UK Championship and the Masters, despite frequently finding himself in trouble for his best form. He did, however, win the lucrative Riyadh Season Championship invitational tournament.
“The season hasn’t been good,” he said. I can’t explain why I’ve been working as hard as I always do; simply put, I’ve not played well enough, he said.
“I know I won out in Saudi, but I don’t feel like my game is as good as I would like it to be,” says the author, “but this isn’t a bad place to try to rectify that.”
You can see how bad Kyren [Wilson] had last year; he had a better year than I did, but he won the world championship after 17 days at Sheffield.
I still think it will occur, he said.
Images courtesy of Getty
Allen has already accumulated two World Championship titles, but he now believes he has more of the ingredients for potential success to add to his already impressive career resume.
“You need to get the most out of your bad sessions, be mentally strong, pot a few balls at the right times, and have some luck along the way to win.”
In 17 days, you don’t need to play phenomenal snooker. You’ll never do that, ever. Just compete, be patient, and you’ll find some form soon.
“All you can do is prepare as well as you can prepare, which I always do. Working with the sports psychologist and working hard at the practice table help me a little bit get in shape.
Not that I’m not attempting to improve, I’m just trying. I don’t know what will happen, just that it hasn’t yet.
On Sunday, Allen will face Fan Zhengyi, the world number 46 player who is one of the top 10 Chinese players in the 32-player field.
When they met in 2023 at the same time, the county Antrim player defeated the 24-year-old 10-5.
“Fan is a very good player,” the saying goes. I’ll need to try and compete very well because he won the European Masters a few years ago and has since become a little quieter.
Grace from the Mirror’s shopping column tested out Loop’s Dream Earplugs to see if they could block out noisy neighbors as we get warmer and keep our windows open.
We may receive commission from sales of the products or services we write through affiliate links in this article. more information
Loop’s Dream Earplugs are designed for side-sleepers and all-night wear(Image: Loop earplugs)
It’s officially the season to leave your windows open and trips away now that spring is here and summer is in full swing. That can lead to oomphing neighbors and plane rumbles. I sleep well. However, I’ve found it difficult to fall asleep if there is a lot of background noise. Thankfully, Loop earplugs have helped me find the solution to my issues.
I’ve never been a fan of using earplugs, especially as a side sleeper, because they make me uncomfortable all night long. However, I’ve really had a big change with Loop’s Dream earplugs, which cost $44.55.
These earplugs, which were specifically made for side sleepers and all-night wear, are by far the most comfortable I’ve ever tried, and they effectively block out ambient noise.
The soft, oval-shaped silicone ear tips have been created to mold and mold to your ear’s natural shape, preventing slipping out at night. There is also a low ear pressure caused by the soft silicone.
With this week’s pollen count, eye spray that lessens hayfever symptoms is a godsend.
Next shoppers claim their “new favorite summer dress” is a £42 gingham midi with pockets.
The carry case makes these earplugs perfect for travelling(Image: Loop earplugs)
They also have up to 27 dB noise reduction, helping to muffle out noises from the morning bin men to snoring partners and noisy neighbours. I love that they block unwanted background noises just enough to get a restful sleep but still allow me to hear my morning alarm.
Changeing these tips is relatively simple with the Dream earplugs because they come in four different ear tip sizes to ensure the best fit for you.
Loop Dream Earplugs
£44.95
Purchase here
Later in the year, I’ll have a few long-haul flights scheduled, so I have to bring these handy noise blockers with me. I can easily slip them into my hand luggage without taking up any room because they come with a compact carry case.
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The only drawback, in my opinion, is that they don’t block as much noise as they could. This is not an issue for me because I prefer the comfort of them over anything else and only want the noise to be lightly drowned out. However, these may not work as well for you if your home or apartment is surrounded by a lot of noise.
Sky presenter Jacquie Beltrao opens up about the milestone 60th she wondered if she’d reach, how husband Eduardo has been her rock and her joy at being ‘cancer-free’ for five years
Jacquie Beltrao has faced some formidable challenges in her life – competing as a gymnast in the 1984 Olympics and interviewing some of sport’s great stars. For the likeable, straight-talking Sky News presenter, none have been bigger, however, than the cancer battle she has fought for the last 12 years.
But on Monday 21 April, Jacquie turns 60 – five years on from finding out she had stage 4 breast cancer after the doctors found the disease had spread to her leg and spine. It’s a milestone, she exclusively tells OK!, thought she would never make, yet thanks to a pioneering drug called Olaparib – often taken by ovarian cancer sufferers – she is fighting fit, has been cancer-free for half a decade and welcomed in her seventh decade in style.
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Dublin-born Jacquie believes her Olympian ‘drive’ has helped in her gruelling cancer battle(Image: OK!/James Rudland)
“In some ways turning 60 can fill you with dread, sometimes you feel people can look at you differently, but there were days I never thought I would make it to this point given the severity of my cancer. But here I am.
“I feel truly blessed and ready to have a big party to celebrate life. I have always been a very positive person, trying to find the right mindset to approach life, but almost exactly five years ago when I was told my cancer had spread, it was very hard not to start planning a funeral. But instead, I was planning a 60th birthday. It’s wonderful to be able to say that.”
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Warm and open, Jacquie is speaking to us from her stylish, light-filled home in south-west London, which she and Brazilian husband Eduardo, 60, renovated themselves. The house has a grey and dark blue theme throughout, with a statement cream fireplace in the living room. In the dining area is a wall of photos on which proudly hang graduation pictures of each of the couple’s three grown-up kids, as well as artist-drawn images of their dogs.
Reflecting on how her former career as an elite gymnast – she represented Great Britain at the 1984 Olympics – has helped shape her mindset in her fight against cancer, Jacquie says, “It has definitely helped me. You have this belief and drive when you compete in elite sport.
Jacquie and Eduardo share a beautiful, light-filled home in South West London(Image: OK!/James Rudland)
“I’m sure the fact that I know I was in a tiny fraction of people who were able to compete for their country at an Olympics gave me some belief that maybe I could be in the fraction of people who survive long after a cancer diagnosis that I got. But I can’t emphasise enough how lucky I feel.”
She has been a central figure in breakfast TV for over three decades, hosting the sports bulletins on Sky News’ Breakfast programme – being there for some of the biggest moments in sporting history. Her eyes light up when she proudly reflects on some of her favourite presenting moments of her career at Sky, which is now in its 33rd year – making her the longest-serving presenter at the channel after Kay Burley stepped away earlier this year.
“Oh my goodness, being at Wimbledon to see Andy Murray win it in 2013 was super special,” she gushes fondly. “I was surrounded by all these tennis aficionados in the press section and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. It was a privilege to see the first British man to win Wimbledon for 77 years.
“Equally, seeing the Lionesses win the Euros in 2022 was incredible. We were dashing in and out of the stadium to get ready to do a live broadcast as everything unfolded at Wembley. When they won 2-1, we were so happy. When I eventually finished my last broadcast at 11.30pm that night, I barely had a voice left.”
The Sky News presenter feels ‘very very lucky’ to be here and entering her seventh decade(Image: OK!/James Rudland)
But Jacquie is aware that to do her job, she has to be “blinkered and focused”, getting up at 3.30am every morning from Thursday to Saturday to present the Breakfast show, as life at home continues on. She lives in her swanky semi-detached home with Eduardo, where they have resided for 12 years. It is here that they brought up their three kids Amelia, 27, who is a newsreader on TalkSport radio, and sons Tiago, 24, a promotions and publicity executive, and Jorge, 23, an oil and shipping analyst.
“There were days when if I made the kids’ dinner, I would be doing well, such was the focus on the job,” she wistfully reflects. “Given how early I get up, I need to get to bed early to get my sleep so often, while others are winding down for the weekend, I am winding up and focusing on work. But they have been so supportive of me and what has happened to me with my cancer has brought us even closer together. I couldn’t have done it without them.”
It was in 2013 that Jacquie was first diagnosed with the disease after noticing a lump. A mastectomy and reconstruction followed and at one point she was told the chances of any cancer returning in the next five years were around three out of 100 – odds she described as “pretty damn good”.
The TV star recalls the ‘crying, pure joy and relief’ when her scans showed all evidence of cancer had gone(Image: OK!/James Rudland)
Jacquie oozes positivity as she remembers how, in a bid to fight off the disease, she completely overhauled her diet, ditched dairy, started yoga and began running three times a week. However, in 2020 – during the Covid lockdown – she found a lump the size of a grain of rice just below her collarbone. In the following days she learned her cancer had returned and it was more aggressive than before.
Doctors said it was stage four and that she would never be fully rid of it. “It hit me like a ton of bricks. I’d always been positive in my outlook, looking for good news, good outcomes and then it became very hard to see them,” Jacquie quietly remembers, as Eduardo leans over to hug her tenderly.
“I didn’t know where to turn. I would have some very dark thoughts. I remember looking up how long people live for from stage four cancer and it said a max of two years. I remember Eduardo couldn’t come in to see the doctor with me, which was so hard for both of us, due to Covid restrictions. The kids not only had to deal with Covid and the lockdown, but they had to take in the news that mum’s cancer was back. I still don’t know what effect that will have on them. It must have been so hard.”
A year later, her outlook was made even tougher when a scan found the cancer had spread to each of her legs and her spine. In total, she had 17 rounds of chemotherapy. However, it was a PARP inhibitor drug which kills off cancerous cells that changed things for her when she started taking it in 2021.
Jacquie also reminisces about reporting from some of the big sporting events such as the Lionesses’ win(Image: OK!/James Rudland)
Jacquie reveals, “I started to take a targeted therapy drug called Olaparib. I was at a point where I would take anything that gave me a chance. For some it has little effect, for others it works for a while and then stops. But remarkably, for me it worked.
“The best way to describe it is to imagine your cancer as a three-legged chair and the drug comes in and knocks one of the legs down and collapses it. Within weeks of taking it, I noticed that my lymph nodes were down, I had a feeling my next scan would show the spread may have slowed.
“In June 2021, I had a scan and the doctor called me to say, ‘You have very, very good results’. She told me there’s no evidence of the disease at all. I was stunned. She explained all of the tumours had gone on the scan, whereas eight weeks ago the cancer could be seen really prominently.
“She sent me over the scan and it was right, the evidence of cancer had gone. It was all down to this miracle drug. I remember telling Eduardo, the boys and Amelia and there was lots of hugging and crying, pure joy and relief.”
Since then, she has been cancer-free. Jacquie, who still has regular check-ups, said, “I’ve had my life back, I feel very blessed. Obviously, I’m aware that it could come back at any point as I have lived through that experience.
The couple’s living room wall is full of nods to their children’s achievements and artwork of their beloved dogs(Image: OK!/James Rudland)
“I take two tablets of the drug twice a day and although it might sound strange, every time I take them out of the packet I feel grateful. And I am fearful to ever miss a dose as I know what they have done and are doing for me.”
As we talk, the other two loves of her life scamper around her legs – insisting to be in the pictures. They are her dogs – bichon cross Ted and havanese Lily. She got them from the Dogs Trust charity. “These guys have been amazing for me. Having dogs when you are in a difficult situation in life helps to ground you,” Jacquie laughs as Ted tugs on her ankle.
“They steer me away from dark thoughts about the cancer as I have to think about looking after them. I would advise anyone to get a dog. Like my family, they bring me so much happiness.”
And speaking of her recent milestone birthday celebrations, Jacquie said, “All the Beltrao clan love a party and the kids, especially. “It was so special being there with them and Eduardo. At points I didn’t think we would get this far, so it was a big celebration.”
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The couple have already been to Thailand at the start of the year to celebrate their joint 60th birthdays, but what are her dreams for the future? Jacquie reveals, “Well, I want Eduardo and I to finish the Argentinian Tango lessons we have started. I’d love that, and then I’d quite like to get better at golf! But, quite frankly, I want to remain healthy and happy. It’s quite a simple ask really.”
In Beijing’s Yizhuang half-marathon, humans won the race and won the race with ease.
In a world-first 21 km (13 miles, 352 yards) challenge on Saturday in the Chinese capital, thousands of runners took on 21 human-roboid robot competitors.
Not all bots, however, were capable of solving the problem. One fell to its feet moments after the initial gun went off, and the other lay motionless for a while. After a few quick steps, another hit a wall, causing its handler to fall as well.
Some machines made it to the finish line, but they still badly outpaced humans. The Beijing Innovation Center of Human Robotics’ Tiangong Ultra clocks in at 2 hours, 40 minutes. More than an hour prior, the men’s champion finished.
These are generally interesting demonstrations, according to Alan Fern, a professor of robotics at Oregon State University, but they don’t really show how useful work or any other basic intelligence can be.
He Sishu, a local AI engineer who was watching from the sidelines, observed that the robots are running very well and stable.
Although technically speaking, the robots weren’t exactly autonomous athletes. Some of the engineers were traveling alone, and some needed physical support to maintain balance.
Chinese businesses like DroidVP and Noetix Robotics produced robots of all sizes and shapes, with a few of them sporting headbands and boxing gloves. Officials compared the competition to a traditional race, with more of a motorsport vibe.
Some of Tiffany Pollard’s most famous moments were a result of her relationships being televised on reality TV. However, she has made a different decision with her current engagement: keeping it private. Let’s look back at her previous shows before getting into her relationship.
TV Icon Tiffany finally found the real love, she’s been searching for.(Image: Charles Sykes/Bravo via Getty Images)
Celebrity Big Brother star Tiffany ‘New York’ Pollard, 43, has never been shy of the spotlight. From her iconic meltdowns to unforgettable one-liners, she made reality TV history – especially during her 2016 stint in the CBB house, where she brought chaos, unexpected flings and even the unforgettable ‘David’s dead’ moment that fans are still talking about to this day.
She even made an appearance in this years’ Celebrity Big Brother special – Late and Love, where she was a part of the celebrity panel revisiting the show’s drama. But one thing she’s keeping more under wraps is her mystery fiancé. The star revealed she was engaged last year during an interview with Jason Lee, where she shared a few details about her partner. She explained her fiancé is Jewish and had just turned 58 at the time, but the rest stayed secret.
READ MORE: Tiffany Pollard’s iconic moments – from ‘David’s dead’ meltdown to Gemma Collins rant
Tiffany appearing with her first showmance Flavor Flav(Image: @tiffany_hbic_pollard/instagram)
Tiffany’s other romantic connections have been much more private. Her dating history was a core competency from a young age when she rose to fame on the recognizable love story Flavour of Love, starring Public Enemy’s Flavor Flav, where 20 women from the film Flavor Flav v., and Tiffany, who was just 23 at the time, quickly gained a following for her charismatic, unapologetic persona. However, Flavor ultimately chose Nicole “Hoopz” Alexander over her.
However, Flavor chose to continue with season 2 of Flavor of Love after their relationship didn’t go as planned. He called Tiffany back to remove some of the newcomers. The pair became closer and even became intimate when he asked her to return to the show to fight for his heart, but he once more chose a different contestant.
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The reality show opened the door for Tiffany to have her own spinoff, “I love New York,” which, like Flavor of Love, pitted men against one another, giving us a much deeper look into her crazy, unpredictable love life despite things not going as planned.
Her love life has always been wild but now things changed swiftly(Image: Shutterstock)
In the end, Patrick “Tango” Hunter defeated 20 competitors to join Tiffany. Tango distinguished himself from the crowd by his soft spoken and sensitive side. At the conclusion of Season 1, he “proposed,” and Tiffany accepted. However, after seeing disrespectful remarks about him and his mother made during the show, he dramatically dumped her on the stage at the reunion. She was heartbroken and blindsided by the shock separation, which also opened the door to season two.
Two more men, brothers Ahmad “Real” and Kamal “Chance,” made their mark in season one. They each had completely different personalities and possessed a unique sense of humor and charm. Both made it to the top three, but Chance wasn’t chosen in the end because she made the decision to continue working with Tango.
Tiffany revealed she made a mistake in Season 1(Image: Getty Images for MAC Cosmetics)
Tiffany acknowledged after the show that she regrets not liking Chance. Years later, Real, who had been battling colon cancer, tragically passed away in 2015, tragically.
I Love New York reappearing for another season because Tango’s relationship wasn’t successful. Ezra “Buddha” Masters won this award in the final round of 32. He was powerful, fierce, and unlike her earlier favorites. He eventually lost his temper, but Tiffany offered to take him back.
In the end, George “Tailor Made” Weisgerber won her heart. He was viewed as a nerdy, polished competitor, but it turned out to be a winner. She and him were “engaged” at the reunion special before moving to Queens for a while. The relationship quickly however, ended.
Tiffany and her Season 2 pick, Tailor Made(Image: Getty Images)
Moving away from American reality TV, Tiffany starred in Celebrity Big Brother – bringing her flirty, bold personality across the world. While in the house, she made her interest in Geordie Shore’s Scotty T clear. They shared kisses and flirty moments, but it soon became cloear he didn’t quite feel the same spark.
But Scotty wasn’t her only crush in the CBB house. Tiffany also boldly confessed her attraction to another housemate, Darren Day, telling him “You’re so sexy… I tried to deny it, but you’re just so masculine.” However as Darren was married, he reminded her of his marital status, leaving a little awkwardness in the air.
In November 2016, Tiffany appeared in another reality show – Famously Single. The show brought celebrities together to work on their relationship problems, but almost instantly sparks flew between Tiffany and Gladiators’ David McIntosh. On the very first night, she made a bold move, instantly inviting David to the bedroom. And he didn’t hesitate. However their relationship was brief and there was no sign of a continued relationship after the show.
Tiffany and Scotty T shared passionate kisses in the Celebrity Big Brother house.(Image: REX/Shutterstock)
Tiffany has made sexual advances recently. I sometimes feel like a guy, I’m not going to lie, I’m. She admitted to being a woman on The Jason Lee Show last year. I “don’t want to fight it,” she said. When I wake up that day, all I want to do is be who I am.
When Lee then inquired about Tiffany’s personal definition of queerness, she responded that “someone who embraces both sides, and whatever it feels like for me that day or at the moment, I’m gonna live it.” When asked if Tiffany had ever had a sexual relationship with a woman, Tiffany giggled and said, “What do you think?”
She is now completely adored by her mysterious partner. She explained that their engagement only took place a few days prior during the I Love New York reunited special from back in 2020. Since then, she has since explained why her previous drama-filled romances were different from this one.
She described their relationship in a conversation with US Weekly last year, revealing how distinct their bond is from her former lovers’. “Like, that’s my soul mate, and I’ve never felt that before,” she said. He is “absolutely perfect for me.” However, it was a long way to get there.
“I’ve always gave another lip to somebody else or left a little flap open, if you will.” she added(Image: ITV)
Tiffany made the hint that she envisions a small, intimate ceremony in Paris, despite the fact that she hasn’t yet revealed his identity. Not everyone is as excited about it, especially her mother, but she has a dream.
She wants the big, full one because I’m her only daughter, I suppose. The mother will obviously want that, too. However, I’d like something tiny. She said, “I just want to eat a hot dog, rock the wedding ring, and then just be staring at the Eiffel Tower in Paris.”
Tiffany continued to look for true love despite all the drama and it appears she may have found it.
Continue reading the article.
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