Northern Ireland Open 2017

Northern Ireland Open 2017 Dafabet Northern Ireland Open 2017
Tournament type:	World ranking tournament
Attendees:	128
Venue:	Waterfront Center, Belfast , Northern Ireland
Opening:	20th November 2017
Endgame:	November 26, 2017
Winner:	Mark Williams
Finalist:	Yan Bingtao
Highest Break:	142 ( John Higgins )
← 2016   2018 →

The Dafabet Northern Ireland Open in 2017 were a world ranking tournament at the Snooker - season 2017/18 . From November 20 to 26, 2017, they were held in the Northern Irish capital Belfast at the Waterford Center . In the previous year it took place at a different venue. The Northern Ireland Open was the second tournament in the Home Nations series , which was introduced in 2016 , after the English Open .

With world champions Mark Selby and Ding Junhui , the two current top players stayed away from the tournament. After Marco Fu's cancellation shortly before the start of the tournament, a regulation from August 30, 2017 came into force for the first time: In his place, a player from the Q School ranking list was allowed to move up at the start of the season. In this case, the young Welsh player Jamie Clarke benefited from it .

The defending champion was the Englishman Mark King , who lost 4-1 to the Chinese Yan Bingtao in the third round . Even Ronnie O'Sullivan eliminated in round 3 of, he had the first Home Nations Championship won and would maintain a victory chance on the 1-million-pound bonus. The winner was Mark Williams from Welsh , who won his 19th world rankings title and his second win of the season after the 6th Red World Cup . His opponent, the 17-year-old Yan Bingtao, on the other hand, was one of the youngest Main Tour finalists ever. As in the previous year, the final was only decided in the decision frame with 9: 8.

Prize money

The prize money for all four tournaments in the Home Nations series remained unchanged.

	Prize money
winner	£ 70,000
finalist	£ 30,000
Semi-finalist	£ 20,000
Quarter finalist	£ 10,000
Round of 16	£ 6,000
Last 32	£ 3,500
Last 64	£ 2,500
Highest break	£ 2,000
All in all	£ 366,000

The Rolling 147 Prize for a maximum break was £ 10,000

Home Nations Series Special Prize

For the player who wins all four tournaments of the Home Nations series (English Open, Northern Ireland Open, Scottish Open, Welsh Open) in the same season, a special prize of 1 million pounds was awarded. After Ronnie O'Sullivan's victory at the English Open a month earlier, he was the prize contender; however, he was eliminated in the third round against Elliot Slessor . The 2017 special prize was therefore not awarded.

Tournament results

125 professionals had registered for the tournament. Two local amateur players, Declan Brennan and - as last year - Jordan Brown , have been nominated by the Northern Irish Federation. The last free place was given to Welshman Jackson Page , who narrowly failed the Main Tour qualification via Q School earlier in the year . Up to the round of 16, four winning frames ( Best of 7 mode ) were played.

First round to round of 16

World number two Judd Trump ended in round 1 , but Barry Hawkins and Shaun Murphy , who had recently become Champion of Champions , also had a false start. The other favorites didn't fare any better in Rounds 2 and 3, so Mark Williams was the only top 16 player in the round of 16.

Upper half 1

	First round best of 7 frames					Second round best of 7 frames					Third round best of 7 frames					Round of 16 best of 7 frames
	1	Mark King	4th
	123	Matthew Bolton	1
						1	Mark King	4th
						111	Ashley Hugill	1
	96	Josh Boileau	2
	111	Ashley Hugill	4th
											1	Mark King	1
											33	Yan Bingtao	4th
	109	Jamie Curtis-Barrett	4th
	73	Ian Preece	1
						109	Jamie Curtis-Barrett	0
						33	Yan Bingtao	4th
	44	Robbie Williams	0
	33	Yan Bingtao	4th
																33	Yan Bingtao	4th
																16	Ryan Day	3
	16	Ryan Day	4th
	62	John Astley	3
						16	Ryan Day	4th
						29	Li Hang	2
	65	Cao Yupeng	3
	29	Li Hang	4th
											16	Ryan Day	4th
											98	Robin Hull	3
	24	Zhou Yuelong	4th
	27	Graeme Dott	3
						24	Zhou Yuelong	1
						98	Robin Hull	4th
	98	Robin Hull	4th
	95	Eden Sharav	3

Upper half 2

First round best of 7 frames

Second round best of 7 frames

Third round best of 7 frames

Round of 16 best of 7 frames

18th

Ricky Walden

4th

71

Hammad Miah

0

18th

Ricky Walden

4th

40

Jack Lisowski

2

40

Jack Lisowski

4th

114

Sean O'Sullivan

0

18th

Ricky Walden

4th

34

Jimmy Robertson

3

34

Jimmy Robertson

4th

23

Michael White

2

34

Jimmy Robertson

4th

69

Zhao Xintong

3

9

Barry Hawkins

3

69

Zhao Xintong

4th

18th

Ricky Walden

2

30th

Robert Milkins

4th

55

Alfie Burden

3

30th

Robert Milkins

4th

30th

Robert Milkins

4th

56

Oliver Lines

1

56

Oliver Lines

4th

88

Xu Si

3

30th

Robert Milkins

4th

8th

Neil Robertson

3

104

Billy Joe Castle

4th

WC

Declan Brennan

2

104

Billy Joe Castle

0

8th

Neil Robertson

4th

8th

Neil Robertson

4th

41

Jamie Jones

1

Upper half 3

	First round best of 7 frames					Second round best of 7 frames					Third round best of 7 frames					Round of 16 best of 7 frames
	5	Mark Allen	4th
	112	Sanderson Lam	2
						5	Mark Allen	3
						58	Tian Pengfei	4th
	113	Soheil Vahedi	2
	58	Tian Pengfei	4th
											58	Tian Pengfei	4th
											60	Noppon Saengkham	2
	82	Craig Steadman	1
	50	Yu Delu	4th
						50	Yu Delu	3
						60	Noppon Saengkham	4th
	121	Hamza Akbar	3
	60	Noppon Saengkham	4th
																58	Tian Pengfei	4th
																59	Chris Wakelin	1
	12	Luca Brecel	-
	81	Fang Xiongman	kl.
						81	Fang Xiongman	1
						59	Chris Wakelin	4th
	122	Chris Totten	0
	59	Chris Wakelin	4th
											59	Chris Wakelin	4th
											115	Jimmy White	0
	115	Jimmy White	4th
	32	Dominic Dale	3
						115	Jimmy White	4th
						80	Jak Jones	0
	80	Jak Jones	4th
	64	Lee Walker	3

Upper half 4

	First round best of 7 frames					Second round best of 7 frames					Third round best of 7 frames					Round of 16 best of 7 frames
	103	Niu Zhuang	4th
	87	Ian Burns	3
						103	Niu Zhuang	1
						70	Ken Doherty	4th
	99	Peter Lines	2
	70	Ken Doherty	4th
											70	Ken Doherty	3
											66	Liam Highfield	4th
	66	Liam Highfield	4th
	35	Mark Davis	3
						66	Liam Highfield	4th
						13	Liang Wenbo	1
	13	Liang Wenbo	4th
	A.	Jackson Page	1
																66	Liam Highfield	2
																101	Lü Haotian	4th
	25th	Alan McManus	1
	107	Yuan Sijun	4th
						107	Yuan Sijun	1
						101	Lü Haotian	4th
	101	Lü Haotian	4th
	108	Joe Swail	3
											101	Lü Haotian	4th
											45	Thepchaiya Un-Nooh	2
	86	Allan Taylor	2
	45	Thepchaiya Un-Nooh	4th
						45	Thepchaiya Un-Nooh	4th
						92	Chen Zifan	3
	4th	Shaun Murphy	1
	92	Chen Zifan	4th

Lower half 1

	First round best of 7 frames					Second round best of 7 frames					Third round best of 7 frames					Round of 16 best of 7 frames
	3	John Higgins	4th
	118	Nigel Bond	2
						3	John Higgins	4th
						47	Hossein Vafaei	1
	47	Hossein Vafaei	4th
	22nd	Anthony Hamilton	2
											3	John Higgins	3
											53	Gary Wilson	4th
	17th	Stephen Maguire	4th
	125	Basem Eltahhan	0
						17th	Stephen Maguire	0
						53	Gary Wilson	4th
	53	Gary Wilson	4th
	72	Alexander Ursenbacher	1
																53	Gary Wilson	1
																97	Li Yuan	4th
	14th	Anthony McGill	kl.
	106	Boonyarit Keattikun	-
						14th	Anthony McGill	4th
						91	Adam Duffy	1
	54	Rory McLeod	2
	91	Adam Duffy	4th
											14th	Anthony McGill	3
											97	Li Yuan	4th
	49	Sam Baird	3
	90	Zhang Yong	4th
						90	Zhang Yong	0
						97	Li Yuan	4th
	74	Aditya Mehta	0
	97	Li Yuan	4th

Lower half 2

	First round best of 7 frames					Second round best of 7 frames					Third round best of 7 frames					Round of 16 best of 7 frames
	67	Mei Xiwen	4th
	WC	Jordan Brown	0
						67	Mei Xiwen	4th
						89	Alex Borg	1
	89	Alex Borg	4th
	37	Peter Ebdon	3
											67	Mei Xiwen	2
											77	Sam Craigie	4th
	38	Mark Joyce	3
	26th	Ben Woollaston	4th
						26th	Ben Woollaston	2
						77	Sam Craigie	4th
	11	Kyren Wilson	1
	77	Sam Craigie	4th
																77	Sam Craigie	1
																78	Elliot Slessor	4th
	78	Elliot Slessor	4th
	116	Kurt Dunham	0
						78	Elliot Slessor	4th
						51	Kurt Maflin	2
	46	Andrew Higginson	1
	51	Kurt Maflin	4th
											78	Elliot Slessor	4th
											6th	Ronnie O'Sullivan	1
	105	Duane Jones	4th
	75	Mitchell Mann	1
						105	Duane Jones	0
						6th	Ronnie O'Sullivan	4th
	6th	Ronnie O'Sullivan	4th
	120	Lukas Kleckers	2

Lower half 3

First round best of 7 frames

Second round best of 7 frames

Third round best of 7 frames

Round of 16 best of 7 frames

A.

Jamie Clarke a

2

42

Mike Dunn

4th

42

Mike Dunn

4th

52

Matthew Stevens

0

52

Matthew Stevens

4th

124

Leo Fernandez

0

42

Mike Dunn

4th

20th

Michael Holt

1

68

Michael Georgiou

4th

43

David Grace

0

68

Michael Georgiou

2

20th

Michael Holt

4th

79

Martin O'Donnell

-

20th

Michael Holt

kl.

42

Mike Dunn

4th

19th

Joe Perry

1

10

Allister Carter

4th

93

Chen Zhe

0

10

Allister Carter

1

31

Xiao Guodong

4th

31

Xiao Guodong

4th

102

Christopher Keogan

2

31

Xiao Guodong

1

19th

Joe Perry

4th

119

Rhys Clark

0

36

Matthew Selt

4th

36

Matthew Selt

0

19th

Joe Perry

4th

94

Gerard Greene

3

19th

Joe Perry

4th

^aAccording to a regulation introduced shortly before, Jamie Clarke, as the best-placed player in the Q-School rankings, got the place from Marco Fu , who had to cancel his participation.

Lower half 4

First round best of 7 frames

Second round best of 7 frames

Third round best of 7 frames

Round of 16 best of 7 frames

63

Zhang Anda

2

84

Akani Songsermsawad

4th

84

Akani Songsermsawad

4th

83

Wang Yuchen

3

61

Scott Donaldson

2

83

Wang Yuchen

4th

84

Akani Songsermsawad

1

15th

Mark Williams

4th

28

Tom Ford

4th

39

Fergal O'Brien

2

28

Tom Ford

0

15th

Mark Williams

4th

15th

Mark Williams

4th

76

James Wattana

0

15th

Mark Williams

4th

21st

David Gilbert

2

57

Daniel Wells

0

21st

David Gilbert

4th

21st

David Gilbert

4th

110

Paul Davison

2

110

Paul Davison

4th

117

Rod Lawler

0

21st

David Gilbert

4th

100

Ross Muir

3

100

Ross Muir

4th

85

Thor Chuan Leong

3

100

Ross Muir

4th

48

Stuart Carrington

2

2

Judd Trump

2

48

Stuart Carrington

4th

WC = wildcard player of the Northern Irish Association NIBSA
A = amateur player (qualified via the Q-School-Order-of-Merit)
kl. = without a fight

Quarter-finals to finals

After being the best-placed player in the last 16, Mark Williams was the only top 32 player in the quarter-finals. Four Chinese players were able to qualify for the last 8. Lü Haotian then made it to the semi-finals and thus achieved his best career result, as did the Englishman Elliot Slessor , who had beaten Ronnie O'Sullivan in round 3 . Yan Bingtao had already reached the semifinals earlier in the month and was able to beat that again with a win over Lü. Slessor lost to Williams.

	Quarterfinals Best of 9 Frames					Semi-final best of 11 frames					Final Best of 17 frames
	33	Yan Bingtao	5
	30th	Robert Milkins	4th
						33	Yan Bingtao	6th
						101	Lü Haotian	2
	58	Tian Pengfei	4th
	101	Lü Haotian	5
											33	Yan Bingtao	8th
											15th	Mark Williams	9
	97	Li Yuan	4th
	78	Elliot Slessor	5
						78	Elliot Slessor	2
						15th	Mark Williams	6th
	42	Mike Dunn	1
	15th	Mark Williams	5

final

While the two-time world champion Mark Williams was able to look back on a total of 18 rankings, Yan Bingtao was in his first Main Tour final. When the Welshman started his career, Yan had just been born. The 17-year-old Chinese also had the chance to enter the statistics as the youngest tournament winner and undercut Ronnie O'Sullivan's record from the UK Championship in 1993 . He started the match offensively with a 2-0 lead and held the lead until the session break. In the evening he won the first frame, but then had to accept the 6: 6 equalization. At 7-7 it looked like Mark Williams could take the lead for the first time, but he missed the chance and Yan was the first to cross the finish line. But Williams was able to catch up one more time and force the decision frame. In frame 17, the Chinese missed several risky long pots and with two middle breaks Williams achieved a clear lead. Yan was able to reduce this with a provoked foul, but the Welshman successfully saved himself from further snooker games and a foul by Yan finally sealed the 8: 9 defeat. After the 2011 German Masters , Williams had to wait more than six and a half years for his 19th victory in a world ranking tournament.

Final: Best of 17 Frames Referee: Marcel Eckardt Waterfront Center,  Belfast , Northern Ireland , 26th November 2017
Yan Bingtao	8: 9	Mark Williams
Afternoon games: 79 : 43, 71 : 0 (51), 19: 67 , 74 : 32, 0: 104 (104), 94 : 29 (63), 3: 63 , 66 : 12 evening games: 137 : 0 (137) , 33: 82 (62), 5: 90 (90), 36: 89 (58), 73 : 23 (59), 18: 63 , 75 : 45 (60), 26: 75 , 28: 77
137	Highest break	104
1	Century breaks	1
5	50+ breaks	4th

Century breaks

A total of 53 century breaks were played.

John Higgins 142, 135, 107 Kurt Maflin 140, 120 Stephen Maguire 138, 129 Ben Woollaston 138 Yan Bingtao 137, 114, 113 Lukas Kleckers 137 Dominic Dale 134 Ryan Day 134 Robert Milkins 132, 105 Li Yuan 131 Joe Perry 129, 107 Gary Wilson 129 Robin Hull 128 Mark Williams 127, 113, 106, 104 Ronnie O'Sullivan 126 Anthony McGill 125 Akani Songsermsawad 125, 119

Thepchaiya Un-Nooh 115, 107, 105 Matthew Selt 113, 108 Sam Craigie 110, 106 Xiao Guodong 110 Tian Pengfei 109, 106 Allan Taylor 108 Paul Davison 106 Kyren Wilson 105 Yuan Sijun 104 Neil Robertson 104 Zhou Yuelong 103 (2 ×) Ken Doherty 103 Michael Holt 103 Cao Yupeng 102 Jack Lisowski 101, 100 Tom Ford 101 Chen Zifan 101

swell

1. ↑ Northern Ireland Open Draw And Format. In: worldsnooker.com. World Professional Billiards & Snooker Association , November 6, 2017, accessed November 7, 2017 . 
2. ↑ Fu Replaced By Clarke In Belfast. In: worldsnooker.com. World Professional Billiards & Snooker Association , November 17, 2017, accessed November 18, 2017 . 
3. ↑ Indicative Prize Money Rankings Schedule 2017/2018 Season. (PDF; 88 kB) In: worldsnooker.com. World Professional Billiards & Snooker Association , July 11, 2017, accessed November 7, 2017 . 
4. ↑ Northern Ireland Open - 2017 Draw. (PDF; 418 kB) World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association , November 6, 2017, accessed on November 7, 2017 . 
5. ↑ Home Nations Series - Northern Ireland Open 2017 - Provisional Format of Play. (PDF; 171 kB) World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association , November 6, 2017, accessed on November 7, 2017 (English). 
6. ↑ Northern Ireland Open (2017). In: snooker.org. Retrieved November 7, 2017 . 
7. ↑ 2017 Northern Ireland Open. In: cuetracker.net. Ron Florax, accessed November 24, 2017 . 
8. ↑ Dafabet Northern Ireland Open 2017 - Centuries. (No longer available online.) In: World Snooker. Archived from the original on November 22, 2017 ; accessed on November 27, 2017 (English). Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.