Allen impresses in NI Open first-round win

Mark Allen won the NI Open in 2021 and 2022

Mark Allen started his bid to win a third Northern Ireland Open title in four years by breezing past China's Liu Hongyu 4-0 in the first round on Monday.

The world number three delighted the home crowd at Belfast's Waterfront Hall by compiling a break of 71 to win the first frame and made it 2-0 thanks to a 76 clearance in the next.

The Antrim man then took a scrappier third and capped off an impressive potting display by putting together a run of 70 to seal victory.

"I played pretty well there. I only missed two balls in the same middle pocket and those were the only mistakes I made in the whole game, I feel my game is in a good place now," Allen told BBC Sport NI.

"My safety was good, my long potting was good and I made three 70 breaks in four frames so hopefully there to come.

"The support I get here every year is amazing and I don't take that lightly. I appreciate every single one who comes to support me and hopefully I've repaid them a little bit. Hopefully there is more to come."

Neil Robertson began his bid to become the first player to win all four Home Nations series events when he edged out Scotland's Graeme Dott 4-3 in a repeat of the 2010 World Championship final.

Robertson won the opening frame before Dott replied to secure the second with a break of 94.

The Australian looked to be in control of the third but broke down on 58 when he missed a simple red, allowing his Scottish opponent to snatch the frame with a 52 clearance.

Robertson only had a 16-point lead in frame four when he let Dott in, but the 2006 world champion was unable to take advantage and the Australian's run of 54 levelled the match.

The players were tied at 40 points each in the fifth, in which Robertson ultimately prevailed, with Dott taking the next with a 76 break, before the English Open champion got over the line.

Meanwhile Anthony McGill beat Stephen Maguire 4-1 in an all-Scottish battle, with Barry Hawkins getting the better of fellow former world finalist Matthew Stevens 4-2.

In other first-round matches on Monday, Elliot Slessor beat Joe O'Connor 4-2, while Tom Ford defeated Rory Thor, Tian Pengfei saw off Si Jiahui and Jimmy Robertson beat Xiao Guodong by the same scoreline.

Martin O'Donnell was a 4-3 victor over Zhang Anda while 62-year-old Jimmy White rolled back the years, beating Iran's Hossein Vafaei 4-2.

John Higgins and Wang Yuchen also sealed victories to move in to the second round in Belfast.