Northern Ireland Open Snooker 2026: Full Tournament Preview
Held at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast, the tournament regularly delivers competitive matches, impressive breaks and opportunities for established stars and emerging talents to make their mark.
The 2026 edition takes place from 18 to 25 October, bringing the world’s leading professionals to Northern Ireland for another week of ranking snooker. As part of the Home Nations Series, the event offers valuable ranking points and a substantial prize fund, making it an important fixture on the professional calendar.
Below is a detailed guide to the confirmed dates, venue, previous champion, prize money and leading contenders. Read on to find out what to expect from the tournament and which players could make an impact in Belfast.
When Is The Northern Ireland Open Snooker 2026?
The BetVictor Northern Ireland Open 2026 runs from Sunday 18 October to Sunday 25 October. The tournament is played over eight days, with the opening rounds leading into the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final.
The opening matches begin on Sunday 18 October, with the schedule progressing through the week. The quarter-finals are scheduled for Friday 23 October, followed by the semi-finals on Saturday 24 October. The final takes place on Sunday 25 October.
The tournament uses different match lengths as the competition progresses. Early rounds feature shorter matches, while the later stages require players to win more frames to advance. The final is played over a best-of-17-frame format, meaning the first player to reach nine frames wins the title.
Session times and individual match schedules can vary, so fans planning to attend should consult the official World Snooker Tour website for the latest draw, order of play and ticket information. Checking the schedule in advance is particularly useful for anyone hoping to watch a specific player or attend one of the decisive sessions.
Where Is The Northern Ireland Open Snooker 2026 Held?
The tournament takes place at the Waterfront Hall in central Belfast, Northern Ireland, close to the River Lagan. The venue has hosted the Northern Ireland Open since 2017 and is scheduled to remain the tournament’s home until at least 2029.
The Waterfront Hall is an established venue for live entertainment and sporting events. Its auditorium provides a dedicated setting for professional snooker, allowing spectators to follow the action closely while enjoying the atmosphere created by Belfast’s enthusiastic audience.
The tournament has become a popular fixture for local fans, particularly when Northern Ireland’s leading players compete in front of a home crowd. Mark Allen, a two-time champion, has been one of the event’s most prominent local figures, while previous winners have included Ronnie O’Sullivan, Judd Trump and Mark Williams.
Belfast also offers a range of transport links, hotels, restaurants and other amenities for visiting spectators. Fans travelling to the event should check the venue’s official information for ticket availability, entry arrangements and session details.
With the Waterfront Hall confirmed as the host venue for 2026, the tournament will once again bring top-level professional snooker to the city, culminating in the presentation of the Alex Higgins Trophy to the champion.
Who Won The Northern Ireland Open Snooker Last Year?
Jack Lisowski won the 2025 Northern Ireland Open, defeating Judd Trump 9–8 in a closely contested final on 26 October 2025. The victory secured Lisowski’s first ranking title after seven appearances in a ranking-event final.
The match went down to the deciding frame, with Lisowski eventually winning 73–7 to claim the Alex Higgins Trophy and the £100,000 winner’s prize. Trump had been seeking another title but was unable to prevent Lisowski from completing a memorable breakthrough victory.
The result was significant for Lisowski, who had previously reached several major finals without securing a ranking-event championship. His triumph also demonstrated how competitive the Northern Ireland Open can be, even when a highly ranked player such as Trump reaches the final.
Lisowski returns to the 2026 tournament as defending champion. He will face competition from a strong professional field, although defending a title is never straightforward in a ranking event where the draw can produce difficult match-ups from the opening rounds.
The 2025 final provides a reminder that momentum and experience under pressure can be decisive in Belfast. However, the outcome of the 2026 tournament will depend on the players’ performances during the event rather than their previous results alone.
What Is The Prize Money For The Northern Ireland Open Snooker?
The 2026 Northern Ireland Open has a total prize fund of £550,400, with £100,000 awarded to the winner. The tournament’s prize structure rewards players for progressing through the rounds, while the highest-break award provides an additional incentive for producing a substantial break.
The main prize-money amounts are:
- Winner: £100,000
- Runner-up: £45,000
- Semi-finalists: £21,000 each
- Quarter-finalists: £13,200 each
- Last 16: £9,000 each
- Last 32: £6,000 each
- Last 64: £3,000 each
- Highest break: £5,000
The prize fund makes the tournament an important opportunity for players at different stages of their careers. For emerging professionals, advancing through the draw can provide valuable earnings and experience against established opponents. For leading players, a deep run can strengthen their ranking position and contribute significantly to their season’s prize-money total.
As a ranking event, the Northern Ireland Open also contributes to the official world rankings, which are based on prize money earned across the relevant two-year period. Strong performances can therefore have consequences beyond the immediate financial reward.
The highest-break prize adds another competitive element, rewarding a player for the tournament’s best break under the event’s applicable rules. While attacking play can produce impressive scoring opportunities, players must balance their ambition with the tactical demands of each frame.
Who Is The Favourite to Win The Northern Ireland Open Snooker?
The Northern Ireland Open attracts many of the sport’s leading players, but identifying a clear favourite depends on the draw, recent results and the latest betting markets. Odds can change as the tournament progresses, so any assessment of the leading contenders should be treated as a snapshot rather than a guarantee.
Judd Trump remains a notable name to watch, having reached the 2025 final before losing to Jack Lisowski. Other established players, including Mark Selby, Neil Robertson, John Higgins and Ronnie O’Sullivan, have the experience and ability to challenge for major ranking titles when competing in the event.
Defending champion Jack Lisowski will also attract attention following his breakthrough victory in 2025. His success demonstrated that he can convert strong performances into a ranking title, although repeating that achievement will depend on his form and the opponents he encounters.
Mark Allen is another important name for Belfast audiences. The Northern Irish player won the tournament in 2022 and 2023, making him a two-time champion with a strong record at his home event.
Bet on the Northern Ireland Open at Bet442
The Northern Ireland Open brings together some of the biggest names in professional snooker for a week of ranking competition in Belfast. Fans following the tournament can keep up with the draw, match results and performances throughout the event.
Bet442 offers several snooker betting markets for the Northern Ireland Open, including markets such as match winner and in-play options.
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**The information provided in this blog is intended for educational purposes and should not be construed as betting advice or a guarantee of success. Always gamble responsibly.