2019 Northern Ireland Open

The fourth edition of the Northern Ireland Open, it was the sixth ranking event of the 2019–20 snooker season, the second tournament of the Home Nations Series. Featuring a prize fund of £405,000, the winner received £70,000. The event was broadcast on Eurosport and Quest domestically and was sponsored by betting company 19.com.

2019 19.com Northern Ireland Open

Tournament information
Dates	11–17 November 2019 (2019-11-11 – 2019-11-17)
Venue	Waterfront Hall
City	Belfast
Country	Northern Ireland
Organisation	World Snooker
Format	Ranking event
Total prize fund	£405,000
Winner's share	£70,000
Highest break	Stuart Bingham (ENG) (147)
Final
Champion	Judd Trump (ENG)
Runner-up	Ronnie O'Sullivan (ENG)
Score	9–7
← 2018 2020 →

The defending champion was Judd Trump, who had defeated Ronnie O'Sullivan 9–7 in the 2018 final. The pair both reached the final in 2019, with Trump successfully defending the title, defeating O'Sullivan by the same scoreline. Stuart Bingham scored the highest break of the tournament, compiling a maximum break in the first frame of his first round match with Lu Ning, the sixth of his career.

 

The Northern Ireland Open was first played in 2016, and was won by Mark King. The 2019 event was the second of four Home Nations Series events, and the sixth world ranking tournament of the 2019–20 snooker season. The event took place from 11 to 17 November 2019 at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast, Northern Ireland. and followed the World Open, and preceded the UK Championship.

The defending champion was Judd Trump, who had won the 2018 event by defeating Ronnie O'Sullivan 9–7. All matches were played as the best of 7 frames in the first four rounds, at which point the number increased: 9 in the quarter-finals; 11 in the semi-finals; and the best of 19 frames in the final. Chinese sports prediction website 19.com sponsored the event, which was broadcast in Europe and Australia by Eurosport; CCTV, Superstars Online, Youku and Zhibo.tv in China; True sport in Thailand; Sky Sports in New Zealand and DAZN in Canada.

Prize fund

The breakdown of prize money for the event is shown below:

 

The first four rounds were played from 11 to 14 November as the best of seven frames. Defending champion Trump defeated James Cahill in the opening round, then beat three Chinese players Zhang Anda, Si Jiahui and Yan Bingtao, whilst unseeded player Anthony Hamilton defeated Tom Ford, Rod Lawler and eighth seed Kyren Wilson to reach the quarter-finals. Fifth seed Mark Selby defeated Xu Si, Matthew Stevens, Luca Brecel and Ken Doherty in qualifying for the quarter-finals where he would meet John Higgins as he defeated Chang Bingyu, Kacper Filipiak, Billy Joe Castle, and 2019 World Cup partner Stephen Maguire. Fourteenth seed Joe Perry defeated Zhao Xintong, Ross Bulman, Graeme Dott and Robbie Williams to play Alexander Ursenbacher in the quarter-finals, who overcame Xiao Guodong and Martin O'Donnell in the opening two rounds. In the third round, he met Stuart Bingham, who made the highest break of the event, a maximum break of 147 in the first frame of his opening round win over Lu Ning, the sixth of Bingham's career. Ursenbacher defeated Bingham 4–2, and then sixth seed Mark Allen 4–3. Seventh seed Shaun Murphy overcame Fraser Patrick, Luo Honghao, Ricky Walden and Barry Hawkins to meet Ronnie O'Sullivan, who defeated Oliver Lines, Lei Peifan, Stuart Carrington and Yuan Sijun.

The quarter-finals were played on 15 November as the best of nine frames. Trump defeated Hamilton 5–1, the same scoreline that O'Sullivan defeated Murphy, whilst Perry defeated Ursenbacher 5–3. Higgins led Selby 4–2, but led 66–0 in frame seven. Selby, however, took more than six minutes to take a single shot, more time than the fastest ever maximum break. Selby won the frame, and tied the match at 4–4, but Higgins won the deciding frame to win 5–4. The semi-finals were played as the best of 11 frames on 16 November. Higgins led Trump at 3–2 in the first, but Trump won the next four frames to progress to the final. A pot on the black ball by Trump in frame eight where he played the cue ball around the table to make a cannon was described by fellow players such as Jimmy White, Mark Allen and opponent Higgins as "one of the best shots ever played". The second semi-final was held between O'Sullivan and Perry. O'Sullivan won all of the first five frames, before winning the match 6–1.

The final was played between Trump and O'Sullivan on 17 November as the best of 17 frames, held over two sessions. Trump won the opening two frames, and led 3–1 after a break of 123 in the fourth. He also led 5–3 after the opening session, despite missing an attempt for a maximum break in frame seven. Upon the restart, O'Sullivan won frame nine, before Trump opened up a three frame lead by winning the next two. O'Sullivan won two frames in a row, to trail by a frame, but Trump made a break of 124 to lead 8–6. Making his second century break of the final, a 135, O'Sullivan won frame 15, but Trump made a break of 84 to win the match 9–7.

The win was Trump's 14th ranking event victory. After the match, Trump commented: "To defend any title is always difficult but to do it against Ronnie [O'Sullivan] is extra special...You've got to play [your best] against Ronnie otherwise you lose." O'Sullivan praised his opponent after the match, commenting that he "enjoyed watching" Trump's play. The pair would also contest the following season's event, with Trump again winning over O'Sullivan by the same scoreline.

The results from the event are shown below. Seeded players have their seedings in brackets. Players highlighted in bold denote match winners.

Qualifying round

  Patrick Wallace (NIR) 4–0   Robbie McGuigan (NIR)

Top half

Section 1

	Last 128 Best of 7 frames				Last 64 Best of 7 frames				Last 32 Best of 7 frames				Last 16 Best of 7 frames
	Judd Trump (ENG) (1)	4
	James Cahill (ENG)	3
					Judd Trump (ENG) (1)	4
					Zhang Anda (CHN)	1
	Zhang Anda (CHN)	4
	Simon Lichtenberg (GER)	1
									Judd Trump (ENG) (1)	4
									Si Jiahui (CHN)	0
	Hossein Vafaei (IRN) (32)	0
	Si Jiahui (CHN)	4
					Si Jiahui (CHN)	4
					Chen Zifan (CHN)	1
	Chen Zifan (CHN)	4
	Patrick Wallace (NIR)	2
													Judd Trump (ENG) (1)	4
													Yan Bingtao (CHN) (17)	0
	Ali Carter (ENG) (16)	4
	Robert Milkins (ENG)	1
					Ali Carter (ENG) (16)	4
					Li Hang (CHN)	3
	Li Hang (CHN)	4
	Elliot Slessor (ENG)	1
									Ali Carter (ENG) (16)	3
									Yan Bingtao (CHN) (17)	4
	Yan Bingtao (CHN) (17)	4
	Andy Hicks (ENG)	2
					Yan Bingtao (CHN) (17)	4
					Marco Fu (HKG)	1
	Marco Fu (HKG)	4
	Gerard Greene (NIR)	1

Section 2

	Last 128 Best of 7 frames				Last 64 Best of 7 frames				Last 32 Best of 7 frames				Last 16 Best of 7 frames
	Ashley Carty (ENG)	1
	Rod Lawler (ENG)	4
					Rod Lawler (ENG)	2
					Andrew Higginson (ENG)	4
	Tom Ford (ENG) (24)	0
	Andrew Higginson (ENG)	4
									Andrew Higginson (ENG)	3
									Anthony Hamilton (ENG)	4
	Thor Chuan Leong (MYS)	1
	Jak Jones (WAL)	4
					Jak Jones (WAL)	0
					Anthony Hamilton (ENG)	4
	David Gilbert (ENG) (9)	3
	Anthony Hamilton (ENG)	4
													Anthony Hamilton (ENG)	4
													Kyren Wilson (ENG) (8)	3
	Liang Wenbo (CHN)	4
	Kurt Maflin (NOR)	1
					Liang Wenbo (CHN)	2
					Tian Pengfei (CHN)	4
	Lyu Haotian (CHN) (25)	1
	Tian Pengfei (CHN)	4
									Tian Pengfei (CHN)	2
									Kyren Wilson (ENG) (8)	4
	Peter Ebdon (ENG)	4
	Jimmy White (ENG)	2
					Peter Ebdon (ENG)	1
					Kyren Wilson (ENG) (8)	4
	Kyren Wilson (ENG) (8)	4
	Alan McManus (SCO)	0

Section 3

	Last 128 Best of 7 frames				Last 64 Best of 7 frames				Last 32 Best of 7 frames				Last 16 Best of 7 frames
	Mark Selby (ENG) (5)	4
	Xu Si (CHN)	2
					Mark Selby (ENG) (5)	4
					Matthew Stevens (WAL)	1
	Matthew Stevens (WAL)	4
	Chris Wakelin (ENG)	1
									Mark Selby (ENG) (5)	4
									Luca Brecel (BEL)	2
	Matthew Selt (ENG) (28)	4
	Daniel Wells (WAL)	2
					Matthew Selt (ENG) (28)	0
					Luca Brecel (BEL)	4
	Adam Stefanow (POL)	0
	Luca Brecel (BEL)	4
													Mark Selby (ENG) (5)	4
													Ken Doherty (IRL)	1
	Jack Lisowski (ENG) (12)	3
	Soheil Vahedi (IRN)	4
					Soheil Vahedi (IRN)	0
					Ken Doherty (IRL)	4
	Ken Doherty (IRL)	4
	Michael Georgiou (CYP)	2
									Ken Doherty (IRL)	4
									Thepchaiya Un-Nooh (THA) (21)	3
	Thepchaiya Un-Nooh (THA) (21)	4
	Mark King (ENG)	2
					Thepchaiya Un-Nooh (THA) (21)	4
					Mei Xiwen (CHN)	2
	Peter Lines (ENG)	1
	Mei Xiwen (CHN)	4

Section 4

	Last 128 Best of 7 frames				Last 64 Best of 7 frames				Last 32 Best of 7 frames				Last 16 Best of 7 frames
	Mitchell Mann (ENG)	4
	Liam Highfield (ENG)	1
					Mitchell Mann (ENG)	1
					Harvey Chandler (ENG)	4
	Ryan Day (WAL) (20)	1
	Harvey Chandler (ENG)	4
									Harvey Chandler (ENG)	2
									Stephen Maguire (SCO) (13)	4
	Mike Dunn (ENG)	2
	Mark Davis (ENG)	4
					Mark Davis (ENG)	2
					Stephen Maguire (SCO) (13)	4
	Stephen Maguire (SCO) (13)	4
	Declan Lavery (NIR)	0
													Stephen Maguire (SCO) (13)	3
													John Higgins (SCO) (4)	4
	Chen Feilong (CHN)	4
	Kishan Hirani (WAL)	2
					Chen Feilong (CHN)	3
					Billy Joe Castle (ENG)	4
	Noppon Saengkham (THA) (29)	3
	Billy Joe Castle (ENG)	4
									Billy Joe Castle (ENG)	1
									John Higgins (SCO) (4)	4
	Riley Parsons (ENG)	3
	Kacper Filipiak (POL)	4
					Kacper Filipiak (POL)	1
					John Higgins (SCO) (4)	4
	John Higgins (SCO) (4)	4
	Chang Bingyu (CHN)	2

Bottom half

Section 5

	Last 128 Best of 7 frames				Last 64 Best of 7 frames				Last 32 Best of 7 frames				Last 16 Best of 7 frames
	Neil Robertson (AUS) (3)	3
	Mark Joyce (ENG)	4
					Mark Joyce (ENG)	4
					Jackson Page (WAL)	2
	Jackson Page (WAL)	4
	Barry Pinches (ENG)	3
									Mark Joyce (ENG)	3
									Robbie Williams (ENG)	4
	Anthony McGill (SCO) (30)	1
	Robbie Williams (ENG)	4
					Robbie Williams (ENG)	4
					Hammad Miah (ENG)	1
	Hammad Miah (ENG)	4
	Martin Gould (ENG)	1
													Robbie Williams (ENG)	1
													Joe Perry (ENG) (14)	4
	Joe Perry (ENG) (14)	4
	Zhao Xintong (CHN)	2
					Joe Perry (ENG) (14)	4
					Ross Bulman (IRL)	2
	Ross Bulman (IRL)	4
	Zhang Jiankang (CHN)	1
									Joe Perry (ENG) (14)	4
									Graeme Dott (SCO) (19)	1
	Graeme Dott (SCO) (19)	4
	Duane Jones (WAL)	2
					Graeme Dott (SCO) (19)	4
					Craig Steadman (ENG)	1
	Bai Langning (CHN)	1
	Craig Steadman (ENG)	4

Section 6

	Last 128 Best of 7 frames				Last 64 Best of 7 frames				Last 32 Best of 7 frames				Last 16 Best of 7 frames
	Lee Walker (WAL)	3
	Martin O'Donnell (ENG)	4
					Martin O'Donnell (ENG)	3
					Alexander Ursenbacher (SUI)	4
	Xiao Guodong (CHN) (22)	2
	Alexander Ursenbacher (SUI)	4
									Alexander Ursenbacher (SUI)	4
									Stuart Bingham (ENG) (11)	2
	Jordan Brown (NIR)	4
	James Wattana (THA)	2
					Jordan Brown (NIR)	1
					Stuart Bingham (ENG) (11)	4
	Stuart Bingham (ENG) (11)	4
	Lu Ning (CHN)	3
													Alexander Ursenbacher (SUI)	4
													Mark Allen (NIR) (6)	3
	Ian Burns (ENG)	4
	Andy Lee (HKG)	0
					Ian Burns (ENG)	3
					Scott Donaldson (SCO) (27)	4
	Scott Donaldson (SCO) (27)	4
	Alfie Burden (ENG)	1
									Scott Donaldson (SCO) (27)	0
									Mark Allen (NIR) (6)	4
	Jamie O'Neill (ENG)	4
	Sunny Akani (THA)	2
					Jamie O'Neill (ENG)	0
					Mark Allen (NIR) (6)	4
	Mark Allen (NIR) (6)	4
	Sam Craigie (ENG)	1

Section 7

	Last 128 Best of 7 frames				Last 64 Best of 7 frames				Last 32 Best of 7 frames				Last 16 Best of 7 frames
	Shaun Murphy (ENG) (7)	4
	Fraser Patrick (SCO)	0
					Shaun Murphy (ENG) (7)	4
					Luo Honghao (CHN)	1
	Dominic Dale (WAL)	2
	Luo Honghao (CHN)	4
									Shaun Murphy (ENG) (7)	4
									Ricky Walden (ENG) (26)	3
	Ricky Walden (ENG) (26)	4
	Alex Borg (MLT)	0
					Ricky Walden (ENG) (26)	4
					Sam Baird (ENG)	1
	Sam Baird (ENG)	4
	Nigel Bond (ENG)	2
													Shaun Murphy (ENG) (7)	4
													Barry Hawkins (ENG) (10)	2
	Barry Hawkins (ENG) (10)	4
	Eden Sharav (ISR)	3
					Barry Hawkins (ENG) (10)	4
					Michael Holt (ENG)	3
	Michael Holt (ENG)	4
	Michael White (WAL)	2
									Barry Hawkins (ENG) (10)	4
									Fergal O'Brien (IRL)	2
	Jimmy Robertson (ENG) (23)	4
	Igor Figueiredo (BRA)	3
					Jimmy Robertson (ENG) (23)	3
					Fergal O'Brien (IRL)	4
	Fan Zhengyi (CHN)	2
	Fergal O'Brien (IRL)	4

Section 8

	Last 128 Best of 7 frames				Last 64 Best of 7 frames				Last 32 Best of 7 frames				Last 16 Best of 7 frames
	Brandon Sargeant (ENG)	2
	Joe O'Connor (ENG)	4
					Joe O'Connor (ENG)	2
					Yuan Sijun (CHN)	4
	Gary Wilson (ENG) (18)	2
	Yuan Sijun (CHN)	4
									Yuan Sijun (CHN)	4
									Ben Woollaston (ENG)	3
	Jamie Clarke (WAL)	2
	Ben Woollaston (ENG)	4
					Ben Woollaston (ENG)	4
					David Lilley (ENG)	2
	Ding Junhui (CHN) (15)	2
	David Lilley (ENG)	4
													Yuan Sijun (CHN)	1
													Ronnie O'Sullivan (ENG) (2)	4
	John Astley (ENG)	1
	Stuart Carrington (ENG)	4
					Stuart Carrington (ENG)	4
					Zhou Yuelong (CHN) (31)	0
	Zhou Yuelong (CHN) (31)	4
	David Grace (ENG)	0
									Stuart Carrington (ENG)	1
									Ronnie O'Sullivan (ENG) (2)	4
	Louis Heathcote (ENG)	2
	Lei Peifan (CHN)	4
					Lei Peifan (CHN)	2
					Ronnie O'Sullivan (ENG) (2)	4
	Ronnie O'Sullivan (ENG) (2)	4
	Oliver Lines (ENG)	2

Finals

	Quarter-finals Best of 9 frames				Semi-finals Best of 11 frames				Final Best of 17 frames
	Judd Trump (ENG) (1)	5
	Anthony Hamilton (ENG)	1
					Judd Trump (ENG) (1)	6
					John Higgins (SCO) (5)	3
	Mark Selby (ENG) (5)	4
	John Higgins (SCO) (4)	5
									Judd Trump (ENG) (1)	9
									Ronnie O'Sullivan (ENG) (2)	7
	Joe Perry (ENG) (14)	5
	Alexander Ursenbacher (SUI)	3
					Joe Perry (ENG) (14)	1
					Ronnie O'Sullivan (ENG) (2)	6
	Shaun Murphy (ENG) (7)	1
	Ronnie O'Sullivan (ENG) (2)	5

Final

Final: Best of 17 frames. Referee: Colin Humphries. Waterfront Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland, 17 November 2019.
Judd Trump (1)   England	9–7	Ronnie O'Sullivan (2)   England
Afternoon: 81–6, 108–1, 7–126 (126), 123–0 (123), 24–89, 113–0, 88–0, 5–86 Evening: 16–75, 123–0 (106), 113–0 (113), 0–73, 55–76, 129–0 (124), 0–135 (135), 84–0
124	Highest break	135
4	Century breaks	2

A total of 76 century breaks were made during the competition. The highest break was a maximum break scored by Bingham in the first frame of his opening round win over Lu Ning.