Mark Joyce has hit back at Mark Allen today after keeping quiet after their grudge match.
Allen commented before and after the match about his dislike for Joyce. In a post match interview Allen said ‘he’s despised’ and also tore into Joyce, accusing him of putting him (Allen) off by chalking his cue. He continued to hit out at Joyce by saying ‘he’s not a good player’ ‘not a nice person’ and ‘a complete nobody’.
Allen who lost four of five matches against Joyce clearly had strong words for Joyce and made them very public.
Today Joyce has broken his silence; he said “It’s been tough. I’ve kept my mouth shut until now and as far as i’m concerend im not sure where this animosity has come from.
” I watched his (Allen) interview after the match and they were absolutely disgraceful things to say about a fellow pro.
” With the ‘cue-chalking’ incident, he was playing a safety and i was just preparing for my next shot.
” Anybody that knows me knows i would never intentionally put another player off
” I think that was almost pre-meditated from him, any opportunity he had to say something to me, he was going to take.
” I think his comments are down to sour grapes more than anything because I’ve had the better of him in our last few meetings.
” After those games, I know he’s been on Twitter and slagged me off but I’ve just ignored it and treated it as banter.
” But this week, with the spotlight on his home tournament it’s given him the perfect opportunity to manipulate the media.
” I’ve seen rumours something might have happened between us when Mark was living in the West Midlands a few years ago.
” But nothing could be further from the truth, in fact we used to practice with each other on occasion.
” I think he’s been totally out of order and he’s made it personal, which there is no need for, before, during and after the game.
” On the table he is a very good player but off it he has no class at all.”
Joyce has overwhelming support from fans across social media and fellow players following the ambush by Allen.
Joyce said ” It’s nice to see the level of support I’ve had and i think he has come out of it all looking like the loser.
” I just want to brush it off now and get ready for the UK championships next week.”
