‘Looking for freebie’, snooker star Mark Allen begs – sparking fury by asking band to perform for ‘coverage’ but no cash

TOP snooker star Mark Allen has sparked outrage by asking for a band or DJ to perform for free at an event – in return for “lots of coverage”.

World number 3 Allen – nicknamed ‘The Pistol’ – faced a backlash after admitting he wanted a “freebie” for the bash, which will be televised.

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Mark Allen has sparked outrage by asking for a band or DJ to perform for free at an event[/caption]

The snooker player faced a backlash after admitting he wanted a ‘freebie’ for the bashTwitter

The row comes after former Corrie star Catherine Tyldesley was caught up in a ‘cake-gate’ storm around her 40th birthday last year.

Northern-Irishman Allen, 37, wrote: “Need a band, singer or DJ to be part of an event I’m running 10th March.

“Not gonna lie, I’m looking a freebie but you’ll be part of an amazing event and you’ll get lots of coverage.

“Event being covered by BBC, UTV and World Snooker. Don’t all come at me at once.”

But 2022 UK Championship winner Allen – who threw a ball across the table in anger this week during a German Masters win – received dozens of replies slamming him for the request.

One follower replied with a screenshot from CueTracker of Allen’s 2023-24 season prize money of £333,500.

Others on X/Twitter said Allen wouldn’t play for free so why should musicians calling his tweet a “bad look” and branding him a “cheapskate”.

One fan said: “As much as I think you’re great mate, you’re a millionaire, looking for a freebie. Catch a grip.”

And several of the star’s 95,000 followers posted tongue in cheek comments.

One said – referring to the 1986 Chas n Dave song featuring snooker players including Steve Davis: “Get the snooker loopy lads back together that’ll do it.”

Another wrote: “I’ll do it. If you play snooker in my living room for free. Bring your own table.”

And one follower added: “Any chance you want to come and do an exhibition in my local club? Not gonna lie, I’m looking for a freebie.”

Several others also recommended Allen – who yesterday faced John Higgins in Round 4 of the German Masters – approach ex-snooker star Steve Davis who has DJ’d since retiring in 2016 and has supported Blur at Wembley.

Snooker ace Allen, from Antrim, announced in January he had launched The Mark Allen Foundation Ltd charity to aid local people in need.

After he posted the request on Wednesday, defiant Allen said online: “Haters gonna hate.”

He added: “Trying to put a charity event on and looking for some freebies and now I’m the devil.

“I’m very happy asking what I have. No one is being forced here, thanks.”

Allen – who won the World Amateur Championship in 2004 then turned pro the next year – shocked fans at the German Masters by launching a ball across after missing a routine black against Thailand’s Manasawin Phetmalaikul.

He won the match on Monday 5-4.

The star, who banked £250,000 when he became UK Champion in 2022 and has career winning of over £3.5 million, has lived a colourful life away from the baize.

He transformed his game by losing five stone and sorting out his finances after his divorce from wife Kyla in 2020.

Allen – who has a daughter with his ex, womens’ snooker star Reanne Evans – filed for bankruptcy amid the split but has since sorted out his finances.

He has admitted he turned to snooker hell-raiser Ronnie O’Sullivan to help get his life back on track – saying: “Away from the cameras and one on one he has been really good to me.”

And he has said he was a “different animal” after overcoming difficult years.

In a 2022 interview, he said: “It’s crazy how much has changed and I’m in such a good place.

“The bankruptcy is done and the divorce with Kyla is completely done.

“Things are different for me financially. I won’t see all this money and that’s my own fault for how I have had to sort my life out.

“I have now a more guaranteed income just to get everything sorted out going forward.”

Actress Tyldesley came under fire last summer when she hired party planners to manage her birthday bash.

They sparked controversy by asking Three Little Birds Bakery to manage cakes and cupcakes, adding that payment would be “in the form of promotion”.

Rebecca Savers of the bakery hit back, saying her staff “can’t feed their kids with exposure on Instagram.”

Catherine – “blindsided” by the row – apparently cancelled her party in Manchester amid the fallout.

A representative for Allen was contacted for comment.

Allen threw a ball across the table in anger this week during a German Masters win

Catherine Tyldesley was caught up in a ‘cake-gate’ storm