A fascinating final four lineup at the 2024 Northern Ireland Open features two former champions and a couple of wannabe first-time winners.
The Waterfront Hall in Belfast is in for a cracking weekend of snooker with the remaining contenders still striving to get their hands on the coveted Alex Higgins Trophy.
There is a £100,000 top prize to chase after as well, with the second Home Nations Series tournament of the campaign nearing its climax.
Let’s take a look at the two semi-finals in the 2025 Northern Ireland Open that will take place on Saturday.
Jack Lisowski vs Zhou Yuelong
Not one but two of the best players in the game who have failed to get their hands on ranking event silverware so far in their careers.
Six-time runner-up Jack Lisowski faces four-time beaten finalist Zhou Yuelong in a last-four showdown full of opportunity.
Zhou has certainly enjoyed the Home Nations Series this term, the Chinese competitor backing up his run to the final of the English Open with another strong showing here.
The 27 year-old, who was beaten 9-8 in the Brentwood title-deciding match, won another close battle on Friday when he pipped Tom Ford by the odd frame.
His next opponent is enjoying a resurgence of sorts, with Lisowski back in the semi-finals of a ranking event for the first time since this same event two years ago.
Now aged 34, the days of the Cheltenham cueist being regarded as a bright rising star are long gone, but there is still time for him and his unquestionable talent to make their mark in the game.
Lisowski added reigning Northern Ireland Open champion Kyren Wilson to his earlier conquest of Mark Selby, suggesting that his recent work with Chris Henry may have added a missing element to his arsenal.
Lisowski and Zhou have clashed eight times in the past in all competitions with the former enjoying a narrow 5-3 head-to-head advantage.
When is it? Saturday, 1pm UTC+1 (BST)
Judd Trump vs Mark Allen
While the first of the Northern Ireland Open semi-finals is all about the prospect of a maiden success, the second reflects the opportunity for a repeat victory.
Judd Trump and Mark Allen boast six titles in the event between them, etching their names onto the trophy at every edition from 2018 until 2023.
The latter prevailed from an all-Antrim affair against practice partner Jordan Brown on Friday while Trump recorded the same 5-2 scoreline in ousting John Higgins.
It sets up a mouthwatering blockbuster battle between two of the sport’s heavyweights, the home favourite against the tournament’s record champion.
Allen is bidding for back-to-back glories in the Home Nations Series while Trump, incredibly, is hoping to add to his trophy cabinet for the first time in 2025.
It has been a lean spell for the world number one, but any feeble fears of a long-lasting decline have been hastily dismissed.
The Englishman is the favourite in the outright market at evens, with these William Hill best betting offers giving snooker fans the opportunity to avail of some free bets.
Trump, though, hasn’t particularly liked facing Allen in the past and has lost 19 of their 34 prior clashes against one another.
In fact, the Pistol has won their three most recent ties – including victories in the finals of both the World Grand Prix and the Champion of Champions in 2023.
When is it? Saturday, 7pm UTC+1 (BST)
2025 Northern Ireland Open Draw
Round of 32 (bo7)
Kyren Wilson 4-1 Ryan Day
Wu Yize 2-4 He Guoqiang
Thepchaiya Un-Nooh 4-1 Mark Davis
Jack Lisowski 4-2 Mark Selby
Long Zehuang 2-4 Yuan Sijun
Chris Wakelin 1-4 Tom Ford
Jimmy Robertson 3-4 Ali Carter
Zhou Yuelong 4-2 David Grace
Judd Trump 4-2 Jackson Page
Gary Wilson 4-2 Martin O’Donnell
Stephen Maguire 0-4 Si Jiahui
Pang Junxu 3-4 John Higgins
Barry Hawkins 3-4 Aaron Hill
Mark Allen 4-3 Ben Woollaston
Elliot Slessor 2-4 Shaun Murphy
Ashley Hugill 0-4 Jordan Brown
Round of 16 (bo7)
Kyren Wilson 4-2 He Guoqiang
Thepchaiya Un-Nooh 2-4 Jack Lisowski
Yuan Sijun 2-4 Tom Ford
Zhou Yuelong w/o Ali Carter
Judd Trump 4-1 Gary Wilson
Si Jiahui 1-4 John Higgins
Aaron Hill 1-4 Mark Allen
Shaun Murphy 2-4 Jordan Brown
Quarter-Finals (bo9)
Kyren Wilson 3-5 Jack Lisowski
Tom Ford 4-5 Zhou Yuelong
Judd Trump 5-2 John Higgins
Mark Allen 5-2 Jordan Brown
Semi-Finals (bo11)
Jack Lisowski vs Zhou Yuelong
(Saturday, 1pm)
Judd Trump vs Mark Allen
(Saturday, 7pm)
Click here for the updated draw and results (snooker.org)
Featured photo credit: WST
