Antrim pals will both vie for Alex Higgins trophy!

THE odds of the Alex Higgins trophy coming back to Antrim for a third time were shortened this week!

Jordan Brown will join his club-mate and practice partner Mark Allen at the Waterfront in Belfast next month for the final stages of the BetVictor Northern Ireland Open.

The Antrim secured his safe passage to the last 64 with a solid 4-2 win over Mitchell Mann on Sunday evening. A break of 106 saw Jordan, the 2021 Welsh Open champion, take the opener, only to lose the second despite a break of 57.

However, he recovered from that setback to take a 3-1 lead, and although Mann won frame five with a break of 50, world number 52 Brown secured his progress in frame six.

The action re-commences at the Waterfront on October 19, with the final on October 26.

Mark Allen has already won it twice - and he’s made no secret of the fact that he wants it back!

The World Snooker Tour moves to Brentwood this week for the BetVictor English Open, the first tournament in the home nations series.

Allen’s young protege Robbie McGuigan will be action in this one too taking on women’s world number one Mink Nutcharut on Friday.

Brown will join in round-two at the weekend, while Mark joins the action for the televised stages next week.