Lisowski opens Belfast defence with win as Selby goes out
Jack Lisowski opened the defence of his Northern Ireland Open title with a 4-1 win over China's Huang Jiahao in Belfast.
The 35-year-old moved 3-0 ahead at the Waterfront Hall on 18 October before Huang stopped the run. Huang took the fourth frame to close to 3-1. Lisowski then edged the fifth frame on the black, potting the final ball to close out the first-round match. BBC Sport
It was a steady start to a big week for Lisowski. He won this event last year for his first ranking title, a tournament victory that counts towards the world rankings. That breakthrough ended a long wait for one of the tour's most fluent break-builders, players who score heavily in a single visit. He will now face Anthony McGill in the second round. McGill earned his place with a 4-1 win over fellow Scot Stephen Maguire.
The shock of the opening day came elsewhere. World number five Mark Selby, a four-time world champion, lost 4-2 to Louis Heathcote. Selby led 2-0. Then he lost four frames in a row. BBC Sport
The defeat ends one particular chase. Selby was trying to become the first player to win all four Home Nations events, the four ranking tournaments staged across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. He arrived in Belfast after winning the Championship League Snooker title earlier in 2026.
Elsewhere in the first round, England's Sam Craigie beat Xiao Guodong in a final-frame decider, with the match settled in the last possible frame. Thailand's Thepchaiya Un-Nooh beat Cork's Aaron Hill 4-2.
The action continued into the evening. Neil Robertson and Shaun Murphy were scheduled to play in Sunday's evening session from 19:00 BST, with Lisowski, Selby and Robertson all named on the opening-day order of play. Radio Times The tournament runs from 18 to 25 October in Belfast. World Snooker Tour
What makes this stand out is the contrast. Lisowski knows how quickly a 3-0 cushion can thin. The silence before that final black tells the story. One long walk around the table, one tightening cue arm, and the defending champion stood firm while Selby, in control at 2-0, found the table turning on him frame by frame.
