Lisowski advances as Selby exits early in Northern Ireland Open defence

Reigning champion Jack Lisowski began his defence of the Northern Ireland Open with a 4‑1 win over Huang Jiahao in Belfast on Thursday. The 35‑year‑old, who captured his first ranking title at the event last year, surged to a three‑frame lead against the Chinese player at the Waterfront Hall. Jiahao reduced the gap to 3‑1, but Lisowski secured the fifth frame on the black to move on. In the next round he will meet Scotland’s Anthony McGill, who also posted a 4‑1 victory, this time over Stephen Maguire.

Lisowski’s smooth passage to the second round was contrasted by a number of upsets on opening day. Four‑time world champion Mark Selby, who was hoping to become the first player to claim all four Home Nations titles, suffered a 4‑2 defeat at the hands of Louis Heathcote. Selby, the world number five and a China Open winner earlier this year, had taken a 2‑0 lead before dropping four consecutive frames.

China’s Xiao Guodong was also eliminated, losing a deciding frame to England’s Sam Craigie. In another first‑round upset, Cork’s Aaron Hill fell 4‑2 to Thailand’s Thepchaiya Un‑Nooh.

Former world champions Neil Robertson and Shaun Murphy also exited early. Robertson was beaten 4‑1 by experienced Ricky Walden, while 20‑year‑old Welsh talent Liam Davies overcame Murphy 4‑2, finishing the match with a 104 break.