'The Antrim Ferrari' Jordan Brown puts brakes on snooker World Champion

Antrim cueman Jordan Brown caused a huge upset on the opening day of the Northern Ireland Open with a 4-0 win over world champion Zhao Xintong at the Waterfront Hall.

The 38-year-old, who went professional after working in Islandbawn Stores in Antrim, has had a poor run of luck over recent seasons, but the home crowd got behind him as he won through to a last-32 meeting with Ashley Hugill.

Brown edged a scrappy opening frame and won the second on the colours, while breaks of 48 and 51 were enough to see him win the frames he needed to advance.

“It was fantastic out there, I absolutely loved it and I want to thank everyone for their support. This is a special place to play,” said Brown.

“I haven't given them much to shout about recently. I beat Neil Robertson here two years ago and I had to try to bring back those memories today and produce something similar. When you play Zhao you have to go for your shots. I kept him cold, especially in the first couple of frames.

“It has been very difficult over the last couple of seasons. It's just confidence, I am a confidence player and when that goes, everything goes. I have been working with Fergal O'Brien on the mental side and trying to get things right again. If I play like that again there’s no reason why I can't go further.”

A top prize of £100,000 is on offer at the seventh ranking event of the 2025 World Snooker Tour season and the second tournament of the Home Nation Series.

Fellow Antrim man Mark Allen is the star attraction during the primetime evening session on Monday as he faces Robert Milkins.

Allen’s protege Robbie McGuigan is not among those making it through to the final stages, but the 21-year-old from Antrim has guaranteed himself a spot in the final stages of the next Home Nations event.

McGuigan won two matches comfortably in qualifying last week week for the BetVictor Scottish Open, which moves to Edinburgh on December 15.

Breaks of 50, 64 and 57 saw him past Oliver Brown 4-1 on Thursday, and he emulated that result on Friday against China’s Gong Chenzi.