Oliver Lines dispatches home hero Mark Allen from 2024 Northern Ireland Open


The world number three coasted through his opening match on Monday at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast, but failed to produce similar form against Lines and struggled to establish firm control of the tie.
After Lines took the opening frame on the final black ball, Allen - who missed the Wuhan Open earlier this month because of his mother being ill - levelled the encounter with the help of an 87 break.
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World number 83 Lines - who recently recorded his best result on the World Snooker Tour with a semi-final finish at the British Open - was aided by a 73 as he went back in front, although former UK and Masters champion Allen took the next two to go one frame away from progression.
However, Lines achieved parity and forced a deciding frame where he got across the line in a low-scoring affair to dismiss the local star and keep his very impressive spell of results going.
The 29-year-old has now won four matches in as many days at the venue in the Northern Irish capital due to having his qualifying matches held over, as they initially clashed with his run to the last four of the aforementioned British Open in Cheltenham.
Elsewhere at the Waterfront on Wednesday, Luca Brecel’s concerns continued as he was eliminated 4-1 by Pang Junxu.
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Former ranking event finalist Pang began strongly as efforts of 63, 71 and 118 assisted him in going 3-0 up. 2023 World Champion Brecel - who has been back on holiday in between matches in this tournament - got on the board with frame four, but Pang wrapped up victory in the next.
It is the third time this season that Pang has got the better of Brecel in professional competition.
Tom Ford’s hopes of re-entering the world’s top 16 took a dent as the world number 17 went down 4-1 o Lei Peifan. Ford deposited the opening frame, but Lei began a four-frame winning streak with a break of 115.
Recent Wuhan Open semi-finalist Long Zehuang hit a 119 as he moved 2-1 up in his round four match, but opponent Elliot Slessor took the next three frames consecutively - highlighted by a 103 in frame five - to reach the last 16 as a 4-2 victor.
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Welsh Open finalist Martin O’Donnell ended the run of Jimmy White, 4-2.
White led twice early on, but the contest seemed to pivot when he missed in frame four. O’Donnell punished with a run of 103 to level before claiming the following two frames to advance.
Barry Hawkins defeats John Higgins in lively tie
Barry Hawkins got his first ever victory over John Higgins in a full ranking event as he moved into Thursday's last 16 with an eventful 4-2 victory.
Their first meeting in ranking event action since 2018, Hawkins (frame 1, 86 break) went 3-0 up and looked like completing a 4-0 whitewash in frame four before missing a relatively straightforward yellow when he had a golden opportunity for the match. Higgins later punished to take the frame and get on the board.
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More drama came in frame five as Hawkins produced a 60 break to leave his opponent requiring penalty points. However, four-time World Champion Higgins dug in and laid a successful snooker before later pinching the frame on the final black to go just one behind at 3-2.
Momentum had shifted dramatically, but the shoe would be on the other foot in frame six as a 70 break from Higgins seemed to have sent the match into a deciding frame with his opponent now needing penalty points.
Hawkins, though, carried on. And when Higgins failed to escape from a snooker and crucially left a free ball which meant there was enough points for him to now win, Hawkins steadied himself to clear with a 36 and finally get the winning verdict.
Ma Hailong is into the last 16 of a ranking event for the second time in his career after dismissing last year's runner-up here, Chris Wakelin, 4-1.
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Having seen his opponent take the opening frame, Ma made a 137 break in frame two to get back on level terms before pocketing the next three in succession.
Neil Robertson - winner of the first Home Nations Series event, the English Open - brushed aside Wang Yuchen, 4-0, top scoring with exactly 100. Wang did not score a single point in three of the frames.
In a match where there were shades of their epic Crucible semi-final encounter from 2020, reigning World Champion Kyren Wilson ousted Anthony McGill, 4-3, on the colours.
A thoroughly entertaining and quality affair, Wilson took the opening frame (77 break) but McGill responded with contributions of 112 and 131 in consecutive frames. Breaks of 62 and 70 helped Wilson go back ahead and on the hill; McGill took the tie all the way, but it was the current Crucible King who squeezed through.
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Wilson will meet Stan Moody in round five after the teenager impressively whitewashed Jak Jones, 4-0, notching up runs of 92 and 103 en route.
The final verdict of the day went to three-time World Champion Mark Williams who ended the title challenge of Noppon Saengkham, 4-1. In the process, Williams crafted a 143 which is currently the highest break of the tournament. If that effort stands, the Welshman will pocket a £5,000 bonus.
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.
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