Mark Allen holds a narrow lead in the Home Nations Series standings at £145,600 while challengers Chang Bingyu, Jack Lisowski and Zhou Yuelong keep his £150,000 bonus hopes alive at the Welsh Open
Mark Allen’s early exit from the Welsh Open has left the Home Nations Series bonus hanging by a thread.
Allen sits on £145,600 from the series’ four events — just shy of the £150,000 jackpot awarded to whoever tops the order of merit.
Because he can no longer add to that total in Llandudno, the onus is now on a handful of rivals to stage deep runs and chase him down.
Where things stand
– David Grace knocked Allen out at Venue Cymru, stopping any chance of him increasing his series haul.
– The Welsh Open winner pockets £100,000 (the runner-up gets £45,000), so a single title run here can dramatically reshape the bonus race.
– Four players still have a realistic shot of overtaking Allen: Chang Bingyu, Zhou Yuelong, Jack Lisowski and Chris Wakelin.
How far any of them go in Wales will decide who lifts the £150,000 prize.
Key results that changed the picture
– Chang Bingyu dismantled Shaun Murphy 4-0, firing breaks of 130, 136, 119 and 130. Chang remains in mathematical contention — but only a tournament victory will put him above Allen. He now awaits either Kyren Wilson or Liu Hongyu.
– Zhou Yuelong also swept his opener 4-0 against Alexander Ursenbacher and meets local hope Jackson Page in the last 32. Like Chang, Zhou’s route to the series lead requires him to go all the way.
– Jack Lisowski beat Louis Heathcote 4-2 and will play Xiao Guodong next. A place in the final would be enough for Lisowski to overtake Allen.
– Chris Wakelin is lurking in the same half of the draw as Lisowski, meaning the two cannot both reach the final — a factor that narrows the number of paths available to claim the bonus.
– David Gilbert beat Northern Ireland’s Robbie McGuigan 4-1, removing another outsider from the running.
What to watch next
– Momentum matters in best-of-seven matches. Players who found form tonight — like Chang and Zhou — will look to ride that confidence through the next rounds.
– Lisowski’s half contains Wakelin; only one of them can realistically reach the final from that side, which simplifies some of the permutations for Allen’s challengers.
– Practically speaking, only outright victory in the Welsh Open will keep Chang and Zhou in with a shot of topping the series. Lisowski needs a final appearance; Wakelin, a deep run.
Beyond the numbers
The Welsh Open’s prize structure turns every match into more than just a step toward the title — it’s also a possible tipping point in the season-long race for a hefty bonus. With Allen sidelined, expect tighter nerves, bolder tactics and a scramble from players and their teams to manage energy and seize opportunity. Local interest remains strong, crowds are steady and a surprise run from a lower-ranked player could still muddy the standings.
In short: Allen’s lead is fragile. The drama in Llandudno over the next few rounds will decide whether one of his rivals can take the final leap and claim the £150,000 Home Nations Series prize.
