Ireland agrees bid to host Tour de France start
The island of Ireland intends to pursue a joint North-South bid to host the opening stages of a future Tour de France in either 2026 or 2027.
Belfast Sport News
Neil Robertson dominates John Astley to reach Northern Ireland Open last 16 for first time in snooker career
Neil Robertson cruised to a 4-1 victory against John Astley to reach the fourth round of the Northern Ireland Open for the first time in his career. Robertson has a relatively poor record in Belfast, having won the three other Home Nations tournaments, but is arguably the favourite to triumph this week following shock defeats for Ronnie O’Sullivan and Judd Trump.
Ronnie O’Sullivan was ‘in control’ - Jimmy White and Alan McManus react after David Grace causes big upset
Eurosport pundits Jimmy White and Alan McManus believe Ronnie O’Sullivan was “in control of the match” until David Grace put in a “brilliant performance” to fight back and win at the Northern Ireland Open. O’Sullivan was 2-0 up in the second round match in Belfast, but Grace came back and was soon 3-2 up after taking advantage of a wild fluke. Ad In the sixth frame, Grace missed several opportunities to close out the match as O’Sullivan sent the contest to a decider, only for the world No.
Northern Ireland Open snooker 2022 LIVE – Ronnie O'Sullivan in action before Neil Robertson in afternoon
Action packed schedule Ad What a line up we have today at the Northern Ireland Open with Ronnie O'Sullivan heading up the billing in Belfast. Northern Ireland Open‘We should be finished!’ – Higgins unsure why younger players are struggling to make breakthrough18 HOURS AGO 10:00 Lyu Haotian v Mark King Elliot Slessor v Yan Bingtao Tian Pengfei v Martin Gould 13:00 Dominic Dale v Zhou Yuelong David Grace v Ronnie O'Sullivan Xiao Guodong v Hossein Vafaei 14:00 Jimmy Robertson v Mark Williams Neil Robertson v John Astley Li Hang v Jordan Brown 19:00 Michael White v Barry Hawkins Hammah Miah v Mark Selby Trump/Hill v Tom Ford 20:00 Mark Allen v Andy Lee Stephen Maguire v Kyren Wilson David Lilley v David Gilbert Referee drama with White Ronnie O’Sullivan believes the behaviour of referee Ben Williams was “uncalled for” after a spat between the official and Jimmy White. In the fourth frame of White’s second round match against Luca Brecel at the Northern Ireland Open, which he lost 4-0, Williams wrongly called which ball The Whirlwind was going for.
Judd Trump out of Northern Ireland Open after being stunned by Aaron Hill in second round in Belfast
Aaron Hill produced a brilliant performance to stun Judd Trump 4-1 in the second round of the Northern Ireland Open. Hill simply outplayed the 2019 world champion with some brilliant shots and big breaks under pressure to advance into the last 32. Ad Trump was aiming to win a fourth Northern Ireland Open title, but his run in Belfast has come to an end.
Ronnie O’Sullivan says referee Ben Williams' behaviour 'uncalled for' in Jimmy White spat at Northern Ireland Open
Ronnie O’Sullivan believes the behaviour of referee Ben Williams was “uncalled for” after a spat between the official and Jimmy White. In the fourth frame of White’s second round match against Luca Brecel at the Northern Ireland Open, which he lost 4-0, Williams wrongly called which ball The Whirlwind was going for. Ad Williams laughed at the situation which White wasn’t happy with, so he gesticulated at the official — seemingly waving a finger at the referee — and was given a warning for his actions.
‘We should be finished!’ – John Higgins unsure why younger snooker players are struggling to make breakthrough
John Higgins believes himself, Ronnie O’Sullivan and Mark Williams “should be finished” and is unsure why younger players have been unable to breakthrough the ranks. The Class of '92 have been consistently among snooker’s elite for three decades, with 14 world titles between them. Ad Higgins, O’Sullivan and Williams made up three of the four semi-finalists at this year’s World Championship in Sheffield.
Aaron Hill shocks Judd Trump at Northern Ireland Open
Aaron Hill has pulled off a major shock by knocking last year's World Championship finalist Judd Trump out of the Northern Ireland Open in Belfast by four frames to one.