Erik Williams
Andres Petrov pulled off a stunning upset at the Northern Ireland Open, ending Mark Allen’s reign as the champion in a thrilling 4-3 battle in Belfast. This remarkable victory marks one of the most memorable moments for Petrov, who turned professional in 2022. Here’s the latest on this gripping snooker showdown.
Mark Allen’s Championship Quest Derailed
Mark Allen, the Northern Irishman, had been the reigning champion at his home event for the past two years, delighting fans at the Waterfront Hall. As the 2023 tournament approached, he was naturally considered one of the top contenders for the title. However, his journey took an unexpected turn as he faced the determined Estonian, Andres Petrov.
Andres Petrov’s Early Dominance
Andres Petrov managed to apply early pressure, securing victories in the first two frames. This initial lead proved to be pivotal as he maintained his composure throughout the match, never allowing Allen to gain a comfortable advantage.
Tense Moments on the Table
Despite the odds stacked against him, Mark Allen demonstrated his resilience by leveling the score at 3-3. In a critical moment, with the match on the line, he had a chance to secure his survival in the tournament. However, his hopes were dashed when he missed the final blue, allowing Petrov to take control.
A Historic Victory for Petrov
Andres Petrov capitalized on the opportunity, showcasing his skills as he cleared the three remaining colors. This triumphant victory can be considered one of the most significant achievements of his career since becoming a professional in 2022.
Neil Robertson Falls to Jordan Brown
In another high-profile match, the Australian snooker star Neil Robertson faced a setback on day two of the tournament. He was defeated 4-1 by local favorite Jordan Brown from Antrim. Brown’s victory, featuring impressive breaks of 94 and 51, sent shockwaves through the tournament.
Other Notable Results
As the Northern Ireland Open continued, other players made their mark in the last 64. The experienced Shaun Murphy faced a tough battle but emerged victorious over Marco Fu in a rematch of the 2008 UK Championship final. Jack Lisowski and Gary Wilson also secured wins with scores of 4-1.
Round of 64 Highlights
- Aaron Hill and Martin O’Donnell, who have previously reached quarter-finals in recent ranking tournaments, progressed to the last 32.
- Promising youngster Stan Moody advanced with a 4-1 victory against Rod Lawler.
- Other winners in the round of 64 included Matthew Selt, Sean O’Sullivan, Dylan Emery, and Xing Zihao.
Upcoming Matches
The Northern Ireland Open continues with some exciting fixtures. Keep an eye out for pre-tournament favorite Judd Trump, who will be competing in the upcoming matches.
Northern Ireland Open Schedule
| Round of 128 (bo7) | |
|---|---|
| Mark Allen 4-0 Ben Mertens | Andres Petrov 4-3 Sanderson Lam |
| Graeme Dott 4-0 Oliver Lines | David Grace 0-4 Zihao Xing |
| Ricky Walden 4-2 Ben Woollaston | Allan Taylor 1-4 Dominic Dale |
| Stuart Bingham 4-3 Ashley Hugill | Xu Si 4-2 Alexander Ursenbacher |
| Mohamed Ibrahim 2-4 Dean Young | Matthew Selt 4-1 Andy Lee |
| Liam Graham 0-4 Jackson Page | Jack Lisowski 4-1 Rebecca Kenna |
| David Lilley 1-4 Aaron Hill | Fan Zhengyi 4-2 Liu Hongyu |
| Dylan Emery 4-3 Martin Gould | Robert Milkins 3-4 Cao Yupeng |
| Shaun Murphy 4-2 Ryan Thomerson | Marco Fu 4-2 Jamie Jones |
| Joe O’Connor 2-4 Zak Surety | Andrew Higginson 2-4 Sean O’Sullivan |
| Ryan Day 3-4 Ma Hailong | Martin O’Donnell 4-3 Daniel Wells |
| Chris Wakelin 4-0 Anthony Hamilton | Alfie Burden 4-3 Mostafa Dorgham |
| Rod Lawler 4-0 Baipat Siripaporn | Zhou Yuelong 2-4 Stan Moody |
| Andrew Pagett 3-4 Lukas Kleckers | Gary Wilson 4-3 Louis Heathcote |
| Jamie Clarke 4-3 Alfie Davies | Xiao Guodong 1-4 Yuan Sijun |
| Jordan Brown 4-2 Stuart Carrington | Neil Robertson 4-1 Wu Yize |
| Judd Trump 4-1 Jenson Kendrick | Adam Duffy 1-4 Julien Leclercq |
| Pang Junxu 2-4 Ian Burns | Liam Highfield 3-4 Ken Doherty |
| Anthony McGill 4-3 Jimmy White | Robbie McGuigan 4-1 Muhammad Asif |
| Noppon Saengkham 4-0 Himanshu Jain | Manasawin Phetmalaikul 3-4 Barry Pinches |
| Mink Nutcharut 2-4 Michael White | Joe Perry 4-2 Ishpreet Singh Chadha |
| Long Zehuang 1-4 Anton Kazakov | Hossein Vafaei 4-1 Mark Joyce |
| James Cahill 4-1 Duane Jones | Stephen Maguire 4-3 Fergal O’Brien |
| Reanne Evans 0-4 Hammad Miah | Kyren Wilson 3-4 Sam Craigie |
| Mark Williams 4-1 Tian Pengfei | Liam Pullen 1-4 Robbie Williams |
| Si Jiahui 1-4 Zhang Anda | John Astley 0-4 Rory Thor |
| Barry Hawkins 4-1 Elliot Slessor | Andy Hicks 2-4 Jiang Jun |
| Jimmy Robertson 4-2 Sydney Wilson | Peng Yisong 4-1 He Guoqiang |
| Matthew Stevens 4-2 Stephen Hendry | David Gilbert 4-1 Joel Connolly |
| Lyu Haotian 4-1 Ashley Carty | Tom Ford 4-0 Haydon Pinhey |
| Scott Donaldson 0-4 Mark Davis | Jak Jones 4-0 Oliver Brown |
| Victor Sarkis 2-4 Ross Muir | Rory McLeod 4-0 Ahmed Aly Elsayed |
| Round of 64 (bo7) | |
| Mark Allen 3-4 Andres Petrov | Graeme Dott 1-4 Xing Zihao |
| Ricky Walden vs Dominic Dale | Stuart Bingham 4-1 Xu Si |
| Dean Young 3-4 Matthew Selt | Jackson Page 1-4 Jack Lisowski |
| Aaron Hill 4-1 Fan Zhengyi | Dylan Emery 4-3 Cao Yupeng |
| Shaun Murphy 4-3 Marco Fu | Zak Surety 3-4 |
