Jack Lisowski said it felt surreal as he fulfilled a lifelong ambition to be a tournament winner through his dramatic victory at the 2025 Northern Ireland Open.
The 34 year-old edged world number one Judd Trump in a titanic tussle at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast that required all 17 frames to determine the outcome.
It was lucky number seven for Lisowski as he put behind him the despair of defeat that he experienced in his previous six ranking event finals.
The Cheltenham competitor, who joined the main tour in 2010, was also a runner-up in two minor-ranking events on the defunct PTC series and lost the final of the invitational version of Championship League Snooker in 2019.
Lisowski has long been heralded as a talented player who possesses the ability to join the very highest echelons of the game.
He has reached as high as number ten in the world rankings and was a semi-finalist at both the UK Championship and the Masters in the past.
But such is the lofty level that he is capable of reaching, most have rated Lisowski’s career up until this point with a sense of immense frustration and disappointment.
Beset with temperament and mindset issues, he often crumbled when under pressure and failed to live up to the expectations that came with being a predicted champion.
Lisowski’s approach to the game has changed in recent months, however, particularly after the painful passing of his father at the start of the year.
An emotionally drained Lisowski lapped up the acclaim of the packed Waterfront Hall crowd and was quick to pay tribute to Trump who was by his side in the painful months that followed that horrendous news.
Teaming up with renowned coach Chris Henry, meanwhile, has already reaped rewards and it will be fascinating to see if the confidence garnered from this triumph can lead to even bigger victories in the future.
“It hasn’t sunk in yet at all,” Jack Lisowski, cradling the Alex Higgins Trophy, told the World Snooker Tour during his post-match interviews.
“I just feel like I’m in a daze, it’s a dream. I don’t know, I’ve never felt like that at the end. I think I let out 28 years of trying since I was a kid.”
“It has been a big build-up and it just feels completely surreal. It’s bittersweet [to do it against Trump] – sweet because Judd’s been the best player in the world for many years.
“So I’ve done it in style, but I don’t like playing him. There’s no two ways about it. He’s my best mate and it’s very strange having to.
“I end up playing him, I can’t play the table. I’ve tried and I’ll keep trying, because I guess we’ll meet many times in the future.
“It’s bittersweet, but he was so graceful and humble in the things he said to me at the end. I knew what kind of guy he was, and he just proved it again.
“I’m very grateful to have him as a friend. He’s a fantastic asset to our sport as well, what an incredible player.”
Lisowski, who moves back up to number 24 in the world rankings, was the underdog in the betting market but snooker fans can join 1xbet from Oman if they fancy him to continue his hot form in upcoming events.
“I felt like I was playing so well this week,” Lisowski continued. “I thought I just had to keep it up, but the first four frames was just like a completely different game.
“There was a lot of safety and I lost my cueing, so I was just kind of battling all day. I had a few rubs of the green here and there which definitely helped.
“But I can’t complain, I feel like I’ve had my fair share of bad luck over the years. I think I’ve earned this one.
“Like I said, I’ve dreamt about this moment for so many years. Everything that has happened, it has just been a very emotionally turbulent eight months.
“I just felt like I had to do it for my dad. When he passed away, it was one of the first things I was thinking that he never got to see me win a tournament.
“It made it a bit more serious, it’s not as much fun and games any more. I’ve been working maybe a little bit harder.
“I’ve kind of done it for him and my mum, and the fans. You know, everyone that has supported me over the years, to give them something to cheer about.
“This is definitely the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life – it was so hard honestly. Even winning that last frame, I thought I’d thrown it away twice.
“Even when I got in, everything felt numb. Hopefully if I win another one, it’ll be a bit easier and I’ll feel a bit more like I’ve got my feet on the ground.
“At the end there, I lost control. I’m very close to Rob Milkins, and I know when he won in Gibraltar, he said he started feeling different.
“Hopefully I get a bit of that. I don’t know, I’m a tournament winner. I just can’t believe it.”
Jack Lisowski will next be in action at the upcoming International Championship in China, where he’ll meet Louis Heathcote in the last 64 before a potential clash against Ronnie O’Sullivan to come in the round after.
The player known as Jackpot will also be invited to compete at the prestigious Champion of Champions invitational in November as a result of his maiden success on the circuit.
Featured image credit: WST
I’m delighted for Jack Lisowski that’s he finally shaken his maiden tag. It was a compelling denouement, followed by both protagonists speaking in such a heartfelt way about each other. The pleasure displayed by Lisowski after his victory was moving, uplifting and comedic in some of his responses, especially with the TNT team.
This final result and its aftermath represented my personal highlight of the snooker year. The human element behind it was amplified by Lisowski winning in memory of his dad. While added layers included how recent his working relationship with Chris Henry has paid dividends.
The biggest event Lisowski had won previously was the English Amateur Championship in 2010.