The Northern Ireland Open is the second leg of snooker's four-event Home Nations Series and one of the most atmospheric stops on the calendar, with the Belfast crowd at the Waterfront Hall. The total prize fund for this year’s event is £550,400, including £100,000 for the winner, who lifts the Alex Higgins Trophy .
First staged in 2016 and won by Mark King , the event quickly became Judd Trump 's personal playground, winning it four times and contesting six of the last eight finals. The reigning champion is Jack Lisowski , who finally landed his first ranking title last year by edging Trump 9-8 in a final-frame thriller.
This could be the most open Northern Ireland Open yet. World champion Wu Yize withdrew for medical reasons before a ball was struck, and the opening days have been carnage: Judd Trump , Mark Selby , Ronnie O'Sullivan , Shaun Murphy , Neil Robertson and Ali Carter have all fallen at the first hurdle.
World number one Zhao Xintong now heads a reshaped market, but with so many serial winners gone, it sets the scene for someone else to seize the moment! Below we've got you covered with a full preview of the event along with a Best Bet.
Schedule
When is the Northern Ireland Open?
The Northern Ireland Open takes place from October 18th to 25th at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast .
Where will it be available to watch?
TNT Sports, HBO Max and WST Play in the UK and Ireland , with Eurosport and HBO Max covering mainland Europe and WST Play elsewhere.
What is the format of the tournament?
The top 32 players in the world are joined at the venue by the 32 players who came through the qualifying rounds in Leicester in September. Matches are best of 7 frames up to and including the last 16, the quarter-finals and semi-finals are best of 11, and the final is best of 17 over two sessions.
What is the tournament schedule?
October 18th-20th: Last 64
October 20th-21st: Last 32
October 22nd: Last 16
October 23rd: Quarter-Finals
October 24th: Semi-Finals
October 25th: Final
Odds
Northern Ireland Open 2026 Odds 2026
Player | Odds | Chance |
|---|---|---|
Zhao Xintong | 11/4 | 26.7% |
Kyren Wilson | 9/2 | 18.2% |
Mark Allen | 6/1 | 14.3% |
Zhou Yuelong | 11/1 | 8.3% |
Mark Williams | 12/1 | 7.7% |
John Higgins | 12/1 | 7.7% |
Jack Lisowski | 14/1 | 6.7% |
Jak Jones | 14/1 | 6.7% |
Bar | 16/1 | 5.9% |
Odds correct at timof writing and subject to change.
Favourites
Northern Ireland Open Favourites
Zhao Xintong
Zhao Xintong - 11/4
Favourite for the Northern Ireland Open is Zhao Xintong with odds of 11/4, suggesting a 26.7% chance he lands his first title in the event.
The 2025 World Champion has completed a remarkable comeback following his ban for his part in the match-fixing scandal, and after the Wuhan Open rankings revision, he became the new World Number 1, the first player born in the 1990s, and only the second from Asia after Ding Junhui , to reach top spot.
Zhao reached the final in Wuhan , beating Neil Robertson 5-1 in the quarter-finals and ending Xiao Guodong 's winning streak in the semis, only to lose a final for the first time in his career, going down 10-7 to compatriot Chang Bingyu .
Zhao opens against Gao Yang , with David Gilbert awaiting the winner in the last 32. With so many of the established names already gone, he’s certainly the man to beat this week.
Kyren Wilson
Kyren Wilson - 9/2
Kyren Wilson is the second favourite at odds of 9/2, implying an 18.2% chance of winning his second Northern Ireland Open title.
The Warrior is the 2024 World Champion and knows exactly what it takes to win in Belfast , having thrashed Judd Trump 9-3 in the 2024 final. He reached the quarter-finals as defending champion last year before losing 5-3 to eventual winner Jack Lisowski .
Currently ranked World Number 9, Wilson was runner-up to Trump at the Shanghai Masters this summer and looked sharp in his opener here, whitewashing Ben Mertens 4-0. Thepchaiya Un-Nooh is next up in the last 32.
Mark Allen
Mark Allen - 6/1
The home favourite Mark Allen is priced at 6/1, implying a 14.3% chance of a third Northern Ireland Open title in front of his own fans.
The Pistol won this event back-to-back in 2021 and 2022, beating John Higgins 9-8 and then Zhou Yuelong 9-4 in the finals, and was a semi-finalist again last year. He also reached the semi-finals of the World Championship in May, losing a classic 17-16 to eventual champion Wu Yize .
The big question is sharpness. The World Number 12 has not played so far this season due to personal reasons, and Belfast marks his return. He faces close friend and fellow Northern Irishman Jordan Brown , and the winner meets Zhou Yuelong or Michael Holt in the last 32. If the rust comes off quickly, 6/1 could look a steal with the Waterfront crowd behind him.
Zhou Yuelong
Zhou Yuelong - 11/1
Zhou Yuelong is priced at 11/1, suggesting an 8.3% chance of success.
Zhou Yuelong was runner-up here in 2022 and a semi-finalist last year, losing 6-1 to Jack Lisowski . He opens against Michael Holt and could then run into home hero Mark Allen in the last 32.
Mark Williams
Mark Williams - 12/1
Mark Williams is the joint fifth favourite at 12/1, suggesting a 7.7% chance of success.
The three-time World Champion (2000, 2003 and 2018) won this title in 2017 and remains a fixture inside the world's top 10. He was runner-up to Ali Carter at the English Open last month, losing 9-6 in the final, and won the Xi'an Grand Prix last season with a 10-3 thrashing of Shaun Murphy .
The Welshman beat Robbie Williams 4-2 in his opener and faces Zhang Anda next in the last 32.
John Higgins
John Higgins - 12/1
John Higgins is the joint fifth favourite alongside Mark Williams at 12/1, suggesting a 7.7% chance of success.
The four-time World Champion (1998, 2007, 2009 and 2011) and member of the famous " Class of 92 " remains a fixture in the world's elite, currently ranked World Number 6, and his career tally of ranking titles is bettered only by Ronnie O'Sullivan and Stephen Hendry .
The Wizard of Wishaw came agonisingly close to winning this title in 2021, losing the final 9-8 to Mark Allen . He started this year's event with a comfortable 4-1 win over Liam Highfield , but faces a tough last-32 assignment against the in-form Jak Jones .
Jak Jones
Jak Jones - 14/1
Jak Jones is priced at 14/1, suggesting a 6.7% chance of success.
Jak Jones has been one of the form players of the new campaign, winning both the Championship League and the British Open , where he beat Mark Selby 10-6 in the final. The 2024 Crucible finalist beat Tom Ford 4-1 in round one and now meets John Higgins in arguably the tie of the last 32.
Best Bet
Best Bet: Jack Lisowski - 14/1
Back the champion. Jack Lisowski is 14/1 to defend his title, a 6.7% chance, and that price looks too big.
Jackpot eased through his opener 4-1 against Huang Jiahao and has a kind route to the quarter-finals, with Anthony McGill next and then one of two qualifiers, Wang Xinbo or Mateusz Baranowski .
Kyren Wilson looms as a possible quarter-final opponent, but Lisowski already knows how to beat him on this stage. At 14/1, the defending champion is the value play.
Role of Honour
Northern Ireland Open: Past Winners
Judd Trump – 4 (2023, 2020, 2019, 2018)
Mark Allen – 2 (2022, 2021)
Mark King (2016), Mark Williams (2017), Kyren Wilson (2024), Jack Lisowski (2025)
*Prices are subject to fluctuation
Remember, Always Gamble Responsibly.
Bill is as passionate about Irish football as they come, with an agonising longing to see his country grace a World Cup stage. A League of Ireland devotee and lifelong Man United fan, he knows better than most what sporting heartbreak feels like, and brings that perspective to the BOYLE Sports Blog. With roots in greyhound racing and a curiosity spanning politics, snooker, WWE and beyond, there is rarely a sporting conversation he cannot add to.
