Allen knocked out of Northern Ireland Open by Brown on comeback

Mark Allen’s first match since his painful World Championship semi‑final defeat to Wu Yize in early May ended in a 4‑2 loss to fellow Irishman Jordan Brown at Belfast’s Waterfront Hall. The 40‑year‑old, a former world number one, became the tenth top‑16 player to stumble in the opening round of this year’s tournament, joining the likes of Ronnie O’Sullivan, Judd Trump and Mark Selby.

Allen seized the first frame on Tuesday afternoon, but Brown responded by taking the next two. After Allen drew level at 2‑2, Brown compiled breaks of 53 and 80 to secure the final two frames and the victory.

Other first‑round results saw three‑time world champion Mark Williams beat Robbie Williams 4‑2, while Michael Holt dispatched Zhou Yuelong 4‑1. Brown will look to improve on his 2025 run, where he fell 5‑2 to Allen in the quarter‑finals.

Round two began later on Tuesday, with Scotland’s Anthony McGill eliminating defending champion Jack Lisowski 4‑1. England’s Kyran Wilson produced two centuries, including a 139 in the third frame, to defeat Thailand’s Thepchaiya Un‑Nooh 4‑2. Matthew Selt edged past fellow Englishman Louis Heathcote 4‑2, and Poland’s Mateusz Baranowski survived a 4‑3 thriller against Wang Xinbo.