Mark Allen Falls to Oliver Lines in Northern Ireland Open

Mark Allen's attempt to secure a third consecutive title at the Northern Ireland Open ended in disappointment as he fell to Oliver Lines in a tense 4-3 defeat in the last-32 round. Despite a promising start, including a break of 87 to level the match, Allen struggled with nerves and failed to maintain his momentum after briefly taking a 3-2 lead. Lines, ranked 80 places below Allen, clinched victory by winning the final two frames, showcasing his emerging talent after reaching the British Open semi-finals earlier this season. The match was marked by close exchanges, with both players trading leads before the decisive seventh frame, where Lines's consistent scoring secured his advancement. This loss continues Allen's streak of early exits from the tournament after a similar fate last year, while other notable players, including Luca Brecel and Jimmy White, also exited the competition. Lines will now face either Neil Robertson or Wang Yuchen in the next round.