Judd Trump v Mark Allen live stream | Northern Ireland Open 2025 preview
Trump and Allen face off (Credit: PA Images)
Judd Trump locks horns with Mark Allen in a blockbuster Northern Ireland Open semi-final showdown on Saturday.
The Waterfront Hall in Belfast is the place to be on Saturday night, when the world number one plays the home favourite for a place in Sunday’s showpiece.
It is also a battle of the tournament’s most successful players, with four-time champion Trump taking on two-time winner Allen.
Trump, who lifted the Alex Higgins trophy in 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2023, has continued his impressive record at this event, having reached his sixth semi-final in nine appearances.
The Ace has got stronger as the week has progressed. A pair of 4-2 wins over Anthony McGill and Jackson Page was followed by a commanding 4-1 victory over three-time Home Nations winner Gary Wilson.
Trump then came good after the mid-session interval against John Higgins in the quarter-finals, reeling off the last three frames for what was eventually a comfortable 5-2 success.
Now appearing in his 70th ranking semi-final – and 13th in the Home Nations – he seeks an 11th final in the series, and a fourth straight victory over Allen.
The Pistol, who lifted the trophy in 2021 and 2022, will certainly not roll over, mind, having demonstrated his trademark determination this week.
Indeed, Allen was forced to come through deciding frames in his opening two matches against Robert Milkins and Ben Woollaston, before enjoying a much smoother passage in the last 16 against fellow Irishman Aaron Hill, who he beat 4-1.
He then prevailed from his all-Antrim battle with Jordan Brown in the quarter-finals, defeating his good friend 5-2 to advance to a 44th ranking semi-final – and ninth in the Home Nations.
Victory over Brown could prove a good omen for the Pistol, who went on to lift the trophy following his previous win over his compatriot at the 2022 UK Championship.
Whoever prevails will face a player seeking their first ranking title in the final, in either Jack Lisowski or Zhou Yuelong.
The match breaks off at 7pm BST on Saturday and will be contested over the best of 11 frames at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast.
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