2024 Northern Ireland Open Snooker: Sunday 20th October Preview, Matches, Order of Play

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The opening day of the televised stages of the 2024 Northern Ireland Open takes place on Sunday at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast, and reigning champion Judd Trump starts his title defence during the afternoon session.

Three tables will be in operation for the opening five days of this £550,400 Home Nations Series event and there are 14 matches scheduled for day one in the Northern Irish capital.

World number one Trump is going for an incredible fifth NI Open, having claimed his first in 2018. The 35-year-old begins his latest pursuit against India’s number one Ishpreet Singh Chadha, who is still riding high after reaching the semi-finals of this season’s first Home Nations Series event, the English Open, last month. This will be their first meeting on the World Snooker Tour.

2023 World Champion Luca Brecel needs ranking points as he currently sits 60th in the provisional end-of-season rankings. The Belgian has a tough opening assignment against last season’s Rookie of the Year He Guoqiang, who has defeated Ronnie O’Sullivan twice in ranking event action this term.

In the evening session, Mark Selby will aim to continue his brilliant return to form. The four-time World Champion is on an eight-match winning streak having triumphed at the British Open in Cheltenham and come through his opening round ‘qualifier’ in the International Championship.

‘The Jester’ has an intriguing opener against fellow Leicester cueman Louis Heathcote who is one of the professional circuit’s most improved players of recent times.

Gary Wilson currently holds two Home Nations titles; his bid to make that three starts with a tie versus the very experienced Mark Davis.

This event has not been a particularly happy one for Shaun Murphy, having never been past the last eight in his eight appearances, to date. The career Triple Crown winner is up against Jiang Jun.

Rounds one and two of the competition - involving those outside the top 32 seeding positions - were played a few weeks ago in Sheffield, except for those featuring/potentially featuring Oliver Lines.

Lines’ run to the semi-finals of the British Open clashed with the first round of this event, therefore his opener with Joshua Cooper has been held to the venue. The winner of this tie will face Ricky Walden in round two on Monday.

For full details on the 2024 Northern Ireland Open including the draw, results, prize money, schedule and how to watch, please visit our tournament information centre here.

2024 Northern Ireland Open Snooker, Sunday 20th October match schedule:

10:00BST

  • Oliver Lines v Joshua Cooper (R1)
  • Zhou Yuelong v Dominic Dale (R3)
  • Robert Milkins v Jordan Brown (R3)

13:00BST

  • Jak Jones v Alexander Ursenbacher (R3)
  • Lyu Haotian v Matthew Selt (R3)
  • Judd Trump v Ishpreet Singh Chadha (R3)

(not before 14:00BST)

  • David Gilbert v Lei Peifan (R3)
  • Luca Brecel v He Guoqiang (R3)
  • Ryan Day v Stan Moody (R3)

19:00BST

  • Pang Junxu v Yuan Sijun (R3)
  • Stuart Bingham v Scott Donaldson (R3)
  • Mark Selby v Louis Heathcote (R3)

(not before 20:00BST)

  • Gary Wilson v Mark Davis (R3)
  • Shaun Murphy v Jiang Jun (R3)

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