I underwent amazing body transformation shedding 6.5 STONE after divorce & bankruptcy.. now I want Crucible title glory

MARK ALLEN is heading to the Crucible in his best shape for 15 years — after shedding 6½ stone.

The Pistol, winner of three ranking tournaments this season, has finally proven to pundits he is not deserving of a ‘Championship League’ tag.

PAMark Allen’s body transformation has given him the confidence to go all the way at the Crucible[/caption]

Allen has lost six-and-a-half stone as he attempts to win the World ChampionshipGetty – Contributor

After being destroyed 13-4 by Ronnie O’Sullivan in the second round of last year’s World Championship — when he weighed 19st — Allen reassessed his lifestyle choices.

He has cut out carbs, reduced the boozing and started hitting the gym.

Not only does the 37-year-old look much better these days but he has lots more stamina and endurance.

And they are vital for the 17-day Worlds, which begin on Saturday.

Allen, who has also gone through divorce and sorted out his finances following bankruptcy last year, said: “I’m in the best shape I’ve been in for a long, long time.

“It’s probably 15 years since I’ve looked anything remotely like this.

“I enjoyed myself after the Crucible last time. I ate and drank a bit too much for a few weeks and then I got my head down.

“It was really since June that I started knuckling down and doing things right. Since then, I think I’ve lost 6½ stone. I’m at a point where I’m not even checking the scales anymore.

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“I’m doing a bit of gym work, trying to tone up a bit — to get rid of some excess skin I have got now.

“Losing the weight definitely helped my snooker and helped my life.”

In fact, it was advice from the Rocket which led to Allen taking a leaf out of the clean-living star’s book.

And also some tough love from a friend, who told him he might not even be around to walk his daughter down the aisle unless he changed his ways.

Allen added: “Last year it wasn’t a lot of fun, going round the table and I could hear it in my breathing. I wasn’t in a good place.

“It is no coincidence that, more often than not, the people who do really well consistently at the Crucible are the ones who are in good shape.

“I have given myself a chance this time. I always believed that I could win even when I was at my heaviest — but didn’t do myself any favours.”

Since instigating his health regime, Allen has won the Northern Ireland Open, the UK Championship and World Grand Prix to top the one-year money list on £550,000.

As No 3 seed for Sheffield, Allen opens his campaign on Monday — and tomorrow he will discover his opponent when the draw takes place.

For someone of his natural ability, his Crucible record is poor, with just one semi-final appearance in 16 visits.

Allen said: “I know I am going there with a chance this year and I feel like the other players know that as well.

“I remember Steve Davis saying he felt like I was a Championship League player rather than a Premiership player. I think I have proved that wrong.

“But the pundits have to give an opinion. And they can only deal with what they are seeing at the time.

“If I am not pulling up any trees, then they will speak badly about me. That is a part of it.

“I have never really been one to shy away from criticism.

“I have always believed in my own ability, so regardless of what people think, I know what I can do.

“Say if I won every tournament from now to eternity and I didn’t make a 30 break, I couldn’t care less — just as long as I get my name on the trophy.”