Stephen Maguire hits two centuries in comeback win at Northern Ireland Open snooker as Stan Moody stuns Zhou Yuelong

ByEurosport

Published 20/10/2023 at 19:08 GMT

Stephen Maguire showed his battling qualities to secure a trip to Belfast for the Northern Ireland Open next week with a 4-3 win over Fergal O'Brien in Sheffield. Tour rookie Stan Moody hit a century on his way to overcoming last year's finalist Zhou Yuelong 4-2. Stream top snooker action, including the Northern Ireland Open, live on discovery+, the Eurosport app and at eurosport.com.

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Former UK champion Stephen Maguire hit breaks of 126 and 100 as the Scotsman roared back from 3-1 behind against Fergal O'Brien in an impressive 4-3 qualifying victory at the Northern Ireland Open.

O'Brien led 3-1 boosted by a run of 68 in the third frame, but registered only five points in the final three frames as world No. 32 Maguire booked a trip to Belfast for a last-64 match with James Cahill, the player he defeated 13-12 in the last 16 of the 2019 World Championship.

Meanwhile, Crucible semi-finalist Si Jiahui suffered a surprise 4-1 loss to English Open finalist Zhang Anda in his opening qualifier of the Home Nations event at Ponds Forge in Sheffield.

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Zhang finished with a century to progress to a meeting with John Astley or Rory Thor at Belfast's Waterfront Hall.

Elsewhere on Friday, Michael White overcame former women's world champion Mink Nutcharut 4-2, while 17-year-old world junior champion Stan Moody completed a fine 4-2 success against last year's Northern Ireland Open finalist Zhou Yuelong.

Hailfax teenager Moody trailed 2-1 after Zhou produced 144 and 72, but Moody added to a 66 break in the third frame with further knocks of 108 and 63 seeing him finalise his spot at the finals venue.

He will meet Rod Lawler in the last 64.

The Northern Ireland Open is live on Eurosport and discovery+ from October 22-29 with Mark Allen chasing a third straight victory on home soil.

Former world champion Stuart Bingham claimed a taut 4-3 victory over Ashley Hugill on the final black after clearing up from the green in the closing frame.

Bingham earlier produced 117, 55 and 70 after Hugill had led 3-2 from 2-0 down with runs of 71 and 54. Bingham will take on Xu Si in the last 64.

The world's top 16 play their opening matches in Belfast on Sunday, but world No. 1 Ronnie O'Sullivan has pulled out of the event due to medical reasons.

World champion Luca Brecel, Mark Selby, John Higgins and Ali Carter are also absent after planning to play in a rescheduled exhibition event in Macau.