{
  "id": 15464843,
  "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",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-18T18:21:55.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/selby-lisowski-advances-ni-open-182155895.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "English player Jack Lisowski kicked off his Northern Ireland Open defence with a solid 4-1 win over Chinese opponent Huang Jiahao at the Waterfront Hall. The 35-year-old Lisowski, who claimed his first ranking title at the event last year, took an early three-frame lead before securing the decisive fifth frame with a black ball. He will next face Scotland's Anthony McGill, who similarly defeated Stephen Maguire with a 4-1 scoreline in round two. However, notable upsets occurred on the tournament's opening day with former world champions Mark Selby and Xiao Guodong both eliminated in the first round.",
  "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 advances to next round with 4-1 win over Huang Jiahao",
    "Mark Selby and Xiao Guodong upset as first-round exits",
    "Lisowski to face Anthony McGill in next round"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "BBC Sport",
        "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",
        "published": "2026-10-18T18:12:49.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}