Northern Ireland Open: McGill dethrones Lisowski as Belfast's top-16 cull rolls on

The Northern Ireland Open has lost its defending champion. Jack Lisowski, who won his first ranking title at the Waterfront Hall a year ago, was beaten 4-1 by Anthony McGill in the last 32 on Tuesday, the latest big name to fall in a week that has already torn apart the top of the draw in Belfast.

McGill too sharp for the holder

Lisowski had come through his opening match against Huang Jiahao 4-1, but the Scot gave him little room on day three. McGill opened with a run of 74, Lisowski levelled, and McGill then took the next three frames with breaks of 61 and 73 among his contributions. It continues a lopsided head-to-head: according to Infinity Sport Asia, it was McGill's sixth win in seven meetings with the Englishman.

The result also means there will be a new name on the trophy on Sunday. Lisowski earned the 2025 title with a 9-8 final win over Judd Trump, but Trump himself is long gone from this year's event after losing his opener to Martin O'Donnell.

McGill now meets Poland's Mateusz Baranowski in the last 16 on Thursday. Baranowski edged Wang Xinbo 4-3 on the colours in the deciding frame to reach the last 16 of a ranking event for the first time. Wang had been on course for a 147 earlier in that match before his attempt broke down on a missed red.

Allen's comeback ends in tears

The most emotional story of the day belonged to home favourite Mark Allen. Playing for the first time this season after roughly five months away for personal reasons, the Antrim man lost 4-2 to fellow Antrim player Jordan Brown, the world No.65, who made breaks of 53 and 80.

Allen was visibly upset afterwards and hinted that he may walk away from the sport, telling reporters he was "just trying to survive". Brown described the match as the hardest he has ever had to play. He goes on to face Michael Holt, who beat Zhou Yuelong 4-1.

World No.1 Zhao among the fallers

World No.1 and reigning world champion Zhao Xintong also went out in the opening round. Zhao led Gao Yang 2-0 with breaks of 129 and 64, but the 22-year-old world No.75 then won four frames in a row, including a century of 112, to win 4-2. It was Zhao's second consecutive first-round exit after a home defeat at the recent Shenzhen Open.

Infinity Sport Asia counted 11 of the world's top 16 beaten in their opening match this week, a list that also includes Ronnie O'Sullivan, Mark Selby, Neil Robertson, Shaun Murphy and Ali Carter. Among the elite players still standing are Kyren Wilson, John Higgins and Mark Williams.

Thai interest split

For South-East Asian fans there was mixed news. Thailand's Thepchaiya Un-Nooh lost 4-2 to Kyren Wilson in the last 32 after the former world champion produced breaks of 92, 139, 84 and 103. Wilson was the first player through to the last 16, where he meets either Pang Junxu or Liam Davies.

Noppon Saengkham is still alive after winning an all-Thai opener against Thanawat Tirapongpaiboon 4-3. He meets Scotland's Scott Donaldson in Wednesday evening's last-32 session in Belfast, which falls in the early hours of Thursday in Malaysia.

Elsewhere on Tuesday, Matthew Selt beat Louis Heathcote 4-2, Ricky Walden edged Joe O'Connor 4-3 and Ryan Day survived a deciding frame against Chang Bingyu, clearing with 63 after his opponent had led 55-0.

What comes next

The remaining last-32 matches are played on Wednesday, including Higgins against Jak Jones and Mark Williams against Zhang Anda. The last 16 is on Thursday, the quarter-finals on Friday and the semi-finals on Saturday, with the final on Sunday 25 October.

Key takeaways

• Defending champion Jack Lisowski lost 4-1 to Anthony McGill in the last 32 on Tuesday.
• Mark Allen lost 4-2 to Jordan Brown on his return and hinted at retirement.
• World No.1 Zhao Xintong was beaten 4-2 by world No.75 Gao Yang.
• Thailand's Un-Nooh is out, but Noppon Saengkham plays Scott Donaldson in the last 32.
• The final is on Sunday 25 October at the Waterfront Hall.

FAQ Q: Who beat Jack Lisowski at the 2026 Northern Ireland Open? A: Anthony McGill beat him 4-1 in the last 32 on Tuesday 20 October, with breaks of 74, 61 and 73.

Q: Is Mark Allen retiring from snooker? A: He has not announced a retirement, but after losing to Jordan Brown on his comeback he said he could not see a future for himself in snooker.

Q: When is the Northern Ireland Open final? A: The final is on Sunday 25 October at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast, after the semi-finals on Saturday.

Sources: Infinity Sport Asia, TotallySnookered, snooker.org