Jordan Brown Upsets World Champion Zhao Xintong 4-0 at Northern Ireland Open

Jordan Brown caused a major upset at the Northern Ireland Open by defeating world champion Zhao Xintong 4-0 in the opening round, capitalizing on Zhao's off form to secure a last-32 match against Ashley Hugill. The 38-year-old from Antrim, who had suffered a poor run of results recently, credited his improved confidence and mental coaching from Fergal O'Brien for his strong performance. Brown, known as the 'Antrim Ferrari' and the 2021 Welsh Open champion, expressed joy at playing in front of his home crowd and hopes this victory can help him climb back up the rankings from 55th. Other notable results include wins for Mark Selby, John Higgins, and Judd Trump, with Hugill also causing an upset by defeating world number 35 Noppon Saengkham. Brown's win was highlighted by solid breaks and consistent play, while Zhao managed just 52 points in the match. This victory marks a significant turnaround for Brown as he aims to build momentum in the season at a venue he regards as one of the best on the tour.