Northern Ireland Open Snooker 2026 | Day Five Preview and Order of Play
Williams is the highest seed remaining in Belfast (Credit: Every Second Media/Alamy Live News)
Mark Williams and Kyren Wilson look to stay on course for a second Northern Ireland Open crown when the last 16 commences on Thursday.
It has already been a quite remarkable week at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast, where 14 of the world’s top 16 have already been eliminated from the season’s second Home Nations event.
Williams and Wilson are the only top seeds to have avoided the carnage of the earlier rounds, with both players aiming to double their Alex Higgins trophy haul come the weekend.
Williams, who lifted the trophy in 2017, has recorded a pair of 4-2 wins over Robbie Williams and Zhang Anda, with the highlight of the latter being a superb 78 counter clearance from 53-0 down at 2-2.
Although, the Welshman knows he will have his work cut out against fellow left-hander Martin O’Donnell, who has already taken out two World champions this week in Judd Trump and Luca Brecel.
Meanwhile, after a 4-0 whitewash of Ben Mertens in round one, 2024 champion Kyren Wilson was in fine scoring form against Thepchaiya Un-Nooh, hitting breaks of 139, 103, 92 and 84.
The Warrior locks horns with Pang Junxu in the round of 16, while Jak Jones looks to remain on track for a third ranking title of the season against fellow Welshman Daniel Wells.
Home favourite Jordan Brown bids to continue to fly the Northern Irish flag high when he takes on Scott Donaldson, as Ka Wai Cheung – the man who defeated Ronnie O’Sullivan and Stuart Bingham – aims to add former Crucible and Masters semi-finalist David Gilbert to his list of scalps.
Three-time ranking event winner Ricky Walden does battle with Elliot Slessor, and two-time ranking titlist Anthony McGill plays Mateusz Baranowski, while the other match of the last 16 pits Matthew Selt against Sam Craigie.
Play gets under way at 1pm BST on Thursday, with all matches at the Waterfront Hall contested over the best of seven frames.
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Northern Ireland Open 2026 Schedule of Play
Thursday October 22
Last 16
1pm
Matthew Selt v Sam Craigie
Kyren Wilson v Pang Junxu
2pm
Anthony McGill v Mateusz Baranowski
Elliot Slessor v Ricky Walden
7pm
Mark Williams v Martin O’Donnell
David Gilbert v Ka Wai Cheung
8pm
Jordan Brown v Scott Donaldson
Jak Jones v Daniel Wells