Lisowski Wins Maiden Title in Epic Belfast Final
Jack Lisowski beat Judd Trump 9-8 in a dramatic finish at the BetVictor Northern Ireland Open to win his first ranking title, 15 years after turning professional.
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There were touching scenes at the end of an enthralling contest in Belfast as Lisowski and Trump, close friends since their junior days, embraced after the final balls had been potted. Lisowski dedicated this career-defining triumph to his father, who passed away in March this year.
“I have thought about this moment since I was six or seven years old, it’s surreal,” said Lisowski. “Judd has been my best friend since I was 14 and he was there with me in a restaurant in Hong Kong eight months ago when I got the message about my dad. He has been the best friend I could ask for, the closest thing I could have to a brother. When my dad died I said to my friend that he would never see me win a title. But my friend said I could still do it for my mum. This is for him and for my mum.”
In a thrilling contest there was never more than one frame between the two players and fittingly it went to a decider, which included an edge-of-the-seat sequence of four shots when both players missed reds twice. After Trump’s second error, 34-year-old Lisowski took his opportunity and having lost his first six ranking event finals, three of those against Trump, it was pure relief for the Gloucestershire cueman as he lifted the Alex Higgins Trophy in front of a crowd of 1,500 at the Waterfront Hall.
For many years considered the best player not to land a ranking title, Lisowski has finally lifted that burden and with his vast natural talent could go on to win many more. The £100,000 top prize lifts him from 29th to 24th in the Johnstone’s Paint World Rankings, to ninth in the Sportsbet.io One-Year list and up to second behind Mark Allen in the BetVictor Home Nations Series.
Coming into this week there were few signs that Lisowski was on the brink of something special as he had not previously reached a quarter-final this season. But playing with a new cue and a new tip, working with coach Chris Henry for only six weeks and with his Brazilian girlfriend Bela watching him live for the first time, all elements came together in a perfect storm for the popular left-hander. He knocked out the likes of Mark Selby and Kyren Wilson to reach the final then finally got the better of world number one Trump having lost their eight previous meetings.
Tied 4-4 after the first session, Trump dominated the first frame tonight to edge ahead, then in the next he was among the balls first but ran out of position on 37. He later missed a chance at the last red to a top corner, and Lisowski punished him by clearing for 5-5. Trump’s run of 85 restored his lead before Lisowski’s 84 made it 6-6 at the interval.
In frame 13, Lisowski had the balls at his mercy on a break of 29 but missed the black to a top corner, and Trump capitalised with a run of 41 to regain the lead. In the 14th, Lisowski was up 36-0 when he converted an excellent pot on a red to centre and added 51 to square the tie again. Trump led 30-0 in the 15th when he made a safety error and Lisowski made 60 before over-cutting frame-ball black, but he got another chance and potted the last red to go ahead for the first time since 1-0.
Trump controlled frame 16 with two runs of 38 to set up the decider. Lisowski had the first clear chance and made 27 before a missed red, but Trump could not capitalise as his brace of misses sandwiched another from his opponent. Keeping nerves at bay, Lisowski managed a break of 46 which he will remember for the rest of his life.
Lisowski added: “I want to thank the fans for supporting me, they carried me through the final. Hopefully this is a new start for me.”
Trump said: “There was a lot of tension, it was a different scenario to our previous finals with a lot on the line. I am so pleased for Jack, I am probably a lot happier than I would have been if I had won. I gave it my absolute all, I missed a few shots but Jack fully deserved to win. It’s nice for him to shut everyone up because he is always being called out, but no one can say that again. The first title is so special, given what he has been through in his whole life. He has an amazing family around him and I am glad to be a friend.”
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