Mark Allen beat Mark Joyce in the first round of the Northern Ireland Open on Tuesday evening.
There has been a bitterness between the two for many years. Going into the match, Allen, who is from Antrim, spoke openly about his dislike of Joyce.
I don’t like Mark Joyce, basically he is a dick, on and off the table, I doubt even his mum likes him.
After potting the blue in the first frame, Allen stood up from the table to remonstrate with Joyce. He felt the Englishman was making efforts to distract him as he took the shot.
Allen spoke honestly with Eurosport after the match.
He was chalking cue while I’m down on the shot, there’s just no excuse for it.
He done it quite a few times in the match even after I said something, so there’s no excuse for it.
It’s my shot when I’m at the table, I wouldn’t do when he’s at the table. Have some respect.
There’s just no excuse for it, regardless of whether it’s Mark Joyce today who I dislike anyway, or whether it be anyone. If Ronnie [O'Sullivan] done it - who I have a lot of respect for - I'd definitely say it to Ronnie. It’s something that we as snooker players don’t do – you don’t try and put your opponent off.
Pushed for a reason for the bitterness between them, Allen said that the hostility was mostly coming from him.
The 30-year-old also added that Joyce is player not in his league.
It's probably all one way, if I'm honest. I don't care, he might like me or whatever - I really don't like him. I don't care.
I'm the only one who's vocal about it. I've had run-ins with Mark Joyce. He's just not a nice person.
To be honest, I'm just happy that I've won because I shouldn't be losing to people like Mark Joyce, he's not in my league. I played at 5 per cent there and beat him 4-1, that's the way it should be.
You can watch the Mark Allen interview on Eurosport below.
