{
  "id": 15464378,
  "title": "Selby out but Lisowski advances in NI Open defence",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/selby-out-but-lisowski-advances-in-ni-open-defence",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-18T18:12:49.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "BBC Sport",
    "slug": "bbc-sport",
    "url": "https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/snooker/articles/c9e8l765gdmyo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Reigning champion Jack Lisowski kicked off his defence of the Northern Ireland Open with a 4-1 win against Huang Jiahao in Belfast. Lisowski, 35, had won his first ranking title at the tournament the previous year and quickly took a three-frame lead over his Chinese opponent. Despite Jiahao narrowing the gap to 3-1, Lisowski secured the fifth frame to advance to the next round. He will face Scotland's Anthony McGill, who had also won 4-1 against Stephen Maguire, in round two.\n\nSurprises unfolded on the opening day of the tournament as both Mark Selby and Xiao Guodong were eliminated in round one. Four-time world champion Selby, attempting to become the first player to win the quartet of Home Nations tournaments, was defeated 4-2 by Louis Heathcote. World number five Selby had led 2-0 but dropped four consecutive frames to be defeated.\n\nXiao Guodong was also beaten in the first round, losing a final-frame decider to England's Sam Craigie. Cork's Aaron Hill also suffered a 4-2 defeat in the first round, this time to Thailand's Thepchaiya Un-Nooh. Former world champions Neil Robertson and Shaun Murphy are among the players in action during the tournament's evening session, which began at 19:00 BST.",
  "summary": "Reigning champion Jack Lisowski begins his defence of the Northern Ireland Open with a 4-1 victory over Huang Jiahao in Belfast, but Mark Selby makes a surprise first-round exit.",
  "key_points": [
    "Jack Lisowski wins 4-1 against Huang Jiahao",
    "Lisowski advances to next round",
    "Anthony McGill awaits Lisowski in round two"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Yahoo Sports",
        "title": "Selby out but Lisowski advances in NI Open defence",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/selby-out-but-lisowski-advances-in-ni-open-defence-15464843",
        "published": "2026-10-18T18:21:55.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}