First-round exit for Jordan Brown at Northern Ireland Open

Jordan Brown has been beaten by Robert Milkins in the first round of the BetVictor Northern Ireland Open at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast.

Despite staging a mini comeback, the Antrim man fell to a 4-2 defeat at his home event to continue his frustrating start to the new season.

Milkins took the opener with a swift break of 69 before taking a scrappy second frame on the black.

Brown was in control, getting in with a break of 56, but he left the yellow over the corner pocket.

Milkins ruthlessly took advantage to clear the colours, finishing with an excellent long pink, and then a black along the top rail.

The third followed a similar pattern as the 'Antrim Ferrari' had the first chance, but it was Milkins who was motoring best, knocking in an 81.

With Brown on the brink of a whitewash, he attacked the fourth frame, building a 49-point lead before missing two reds into the bottom right corner.

Both players then missed chances before Brown got in and potted a couple of reds and colours to finally get on the scoreboard.

And that appeared to settle the 37-year-old, who narrowed the gap to the minimum in the next.

But the sixth frame would prove to be the last as Milkins put Brown into a couple of snookers, eventually forcing the Antrim man into an error which opened up the reds.

Milkins needed two opportunities before finally falling over the line, as Brown, needing four snookers, came up short.

Home hopes now rest on Mark Allen, who is going for his third win in Belfast in four seasons. He's due on the table tomorrow night against Liu Hongyu.

Defending champion Judd Trump begins the defence of his title this afternoon against Ishpreet Singh Chadha.