Jack Lisowski realises title dream after dramatic and emotional Northern Ireland Open glory

One of snooker’s most naturally gifted talents, Lisowski also held the unwanted tag as one of the best players on the circuit without a title to his name having previously lost in six ranking event finals.

However, the 34-year-old broke his duck on Sunday night by ousting his good friend and former housemate Trump in an epic encounter to realise a dream by lifting The Alex Higgins Trophy and collecting the £100,000 first prize.

Glory for Lisowski comes after a frustrating few seasons on the World Snooker Tour which had seen him slip down the rankings, and a devasting time away from the baize following the unexpected death of his father last March.

Despite having seen off four-time world champion Mark Selby, defending champion Kyren Wilson, and hitting a hat-trick of century breaks in a statement semi-final victory over Zhou Yuelong en route, Lisowski started the Belfast final as the underdog.

Against Trump, Lisowski was facing an opponent who was aiming for a 31st ranking title, a record-extending fifth Northern Ireland Open crown, and someone who had won 43 of his last 46 matches in the tournament. Lisowski had also been denied by Trump in his last three ranking event finals, with the latest of those being over four-and-a-half years before, and was on an eight-match losing streak to him overall.

How Jack Lisowski won the 2025 Northern Ireland Open

Despite the chasm in top flight achievements and recent one-sided record, though, there was never more than a frame between the two contestants throughout the entire final.

The opening phase of the showpiece was a largely protracted and error-strewn affair with neither player able to properly settle or find their trademark fluency in the balls for a sustained period.

Lisowski deposited the opening frame on the final pink after half-an-hour before Trump compiled a break of 92 to level, and then go in front after winning a scruffy 45-minute-plus frame three, again on the final pink.

There was a dramatic ending to the first mini-session as Lisowski pinched a morale-boosting fourth frame by fashioning a brilliant clearance from the final red to pink after Trump had unexpectedly missed whilst on a run of 52.

On resumption after the mid-session interval the disjointed theme continued, although 36-year-old Trump did conjure up a bit of class by clearing up the last four reds as he constructed a frame-winning effort to nudge back in front.

It was from this point that the contest burst into action and turned into more of the free-flowing spectacle that fans were expecting, as Lisowski broke from the shackles in frame six with a speedy contribution of 112.

With momentum on his side, Lisowski was looking like going back in front but called a foul on himself whilst bridging over balls on a sequence of 49. Trump stepped in and punished with a 75 clearance.

In the final frame of the afternoon session, though, Lisowski followed suit by crafting a decisive break of 62 after Trump had broken down on 48 after running out of position.

Returning a few hours later, the pair were greeted by a record attendance for a snooker match at the Waterfront. The finalists continued to trade frames as Trump (85 break) twice edged back in front only for Lisowski (59, 84) to reply each time.

The pattern continued after the final mid-session interval as Trump moved 7-6 up, but for the sixth time Lisowski levelled as a 51 helped him square up at 7-7 before a 60 assisted him in stringing together back-to-back frames for the first time, going in front for the first time since the opening frame, and reaching the hill first at 8-7 ahead.

The pulsating duel was not to go short, though, as Trump responded by taking frame 16 to force proceedings into a decider.

And what a rollercoaster of a final frame it was with both players, understandably, missing balls under the extreme pressure. However, roared on by the partisan crowd, Lisowski managed to cross the line to secure his long-awaited maiden title.

The eighth different champion this season from as many events, Lisowski rises five places in the world rankings to number 24.

Visit our tournament information centre here for details on the 2025 Northern Ireland Open including the draw, results, schedule and how to watch.