Mark Allen claimed the biggest prize in amateur snooker

Allen arrived back home on Sunday but on Tuesday he must head to Wales for the next round of qualifiers for the World professional circuit.

"Up until this year, if you won the World Amateur you were guaranteed a slot on the pro tour," said Allen.

"However, the rules have changed this year so it's back to Prestatyn for me."

Allen arrived home on Sunday night and was stunned at the reception awaiting him.

''I certainly didn't expect this,'' he said. ''There as a big reception when I won the Europeans, but this surprises me. The welcome is so big at so short notice.

I thought I wasn't going to get a shot in the game Mark Allen

''It's nice to come back having family and friends to support you.''

Allen says that he took everything in his tride when the pressure began to mount at the end of the final.

''I was fiarly relaxed in the last few frames. But up until that, I was very, very nervous,'' he said.

''I sat in the my chair for the first frame when my opponent cleared the table with a 135 break. I thought I wasn't going to get a shot in the game at all.

''But I responded well and won the next three frames to stamp my authority on the match.''

The top six in the qualifiers will gain automatic entry to the professional circuit but Allen is currently placed ninth in the standings.

"However, there are four more qualifiers left so hopefully I will be able to move up into the top six," he added.

Allen claimed the World Amateur Championship title in Holland on Saturday with an 11-6 victory over Australia's Steve Mifsud.