December’s UK Championship will be remembered for Judd Trump finally coming of age, but also for his opponent in the final Mark Allen writing headlines for perhaps the wrong reasons. The Northern Irishman, nicknamed the Pistol, entered into a bitter war of words with World Snooker boss Barry Hearn over the direction he was taking the format of events in.

Calling for the sport’s head honcho to resign amidst a foul-mouthed tirade in a press conference at York’s Barbican Centre, Allen was treading the thin legal line of libel, but threats that he may be sued have been dropped. Hearn appears to have resolved his differences with the player he branded a “silly little boy” after his outburst last month following a meeting over the festive period.

After “a very frank and friendly exchange of views” it appears Allen has seen the light. Improved prize money is one thing Hearn’s alterations have brought about and the snooker boss maintains what he is doing is solely for the benefit of the game. Given the choice between the limelight or going back to “billiard halls and snooker parlours” to “eke out a living”, it doesn’t take a genius to work out which the world’s best players would rather do.