Northern Ireland Open: Holder Mark Allen knocked out as Jordan Brown shocks Neil Robertson

Jordan Brown in action on the green baizeGetty Images

Jordan Brown defeated Ronnie O'Sullivan in the Welsh Open final in February 2021

Holder Mark Allen has been knocked out of the Northern Ireland Open in a shock second-round defeat by Andres Petrov.

Antrim native Allen, who was aiming for a third consecutive home title win, lost 4-3 to the world number 96 at Belfast's Waterfront Hall.

Allen came from 3-1 down to level but the Estonian won it in a 02:00 finish.

Jordan Brown, also from Antrim, delighted the home crowd by beating former world champion Neil Robertson 4-1 in the last 64.

Allen, who in the build-up to the tournament said the World Snooker Tour schedule was "very restrictive" for players, said on social media: "Not to be tonight.

"Gave it absolutely everything but came up just short. Thanks to everyone for their support as always here in Belfast. It doesn't go unnoticed and you deserved better. Back to the practice table for me."

Brown, 36, will face Jamie Clarke or Yuan Sijun in the next round.

The 2021 Welsh Open champion compiled a 94 break to win the first frame and led 3-0 before a 125 in the fourth saw 41-year-old Robertson claw one back.

A run of 51 in the fifth proved enough to secure Brown's passage at the expense of the world number six.

Australian Robertson has yet to reach the final 32 of a ranking tournament this season and if he fails to win the International Championship or UK Championship, his sequence of winning a trophy every year since 2006 will come to an end.

"Beating an all-time great in Neil in front of my home crowd - it doesn't get better than that," world number 44 Brown told World Snooker after his match.

"I absolutely loved it out there, it was an amazing feeling. It's right up there with my best wins, even if Neil has not been in his best form.

"It would mean everything to have a long run here, not just for me but for my family and friends. I'm here to win the tournament, that's the bottom line."

Republic of Ireland player Aaron Hill was also successful on day two at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast, defeating China's Fan Zhengyi 4-1.

Hill, 21, put together breaks of 80 and 73 as he advanced to a meeting with Wales' Dylan Emery in the last 32.

The Cork player, the world number 67, reached the quarter-finals of a ranking event for the first time in his career at the recent Wuhan Open.

A number of top-16 players booked their place in the last 32 on Monday as Shaun Murphy got the better of Marco Fu 4-3 in a tense final-frame decider, while Jack Lisowski saw off Jackson Page, Barry Hawkins beat Elliot Slessor and Hossein Vafaei defeated Mark Joyce, all by a 4-1 scoreline.

Iranian Vafaei impressed with breaks of 74, 72 and 112, with Lisowski registering runs of 68, 57 and 138, and European Masters champion Hawkins putting together a 64, 123 and 108.

Murphy looked to be on course for victory against Fu as he came from one frame down to lead 3-1 with the help of two centuries, but Fu recovered to draw level at 3-3, only for the former world champion to prevail in the deciding frame.

In-form world number three Judd Trump will be in action on Tuesday against Julien Leclerq as he continues his bid for a fourth NI Open title and a third successive victory following his recent triumphs in the English Open and Wuhan Open.

Six of the world's top 16 are not competing at the tournament, including world champion Luca Brecel, world number one Ronnie O'Sullivan and four-time world champions John Higgins and Mark Selby.

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