# 2016 Northern Ireland Open

The 2016 Northern Ireland Open (officially the 2016 Coral Northern Ireland Open) was a professional ranking snooker tournament that took place between 14 and 20 November 2016 at the Titanic Exhibition Centre in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It was the ninth ranking event of the 2016/2017 season.
This was the inaugural Northern Ireland Open event, being held as part of a new Home Nations Series introduced in the 2016/2017 season with the existing Welsh Open and new English Open and Scottish Open tournaments. The winner of the Northern Ireland Open is awarded the Alex Higgins Trophy which is named in honour of Northern Irish two-time world champion Alex Higgins.
Mark King won the first ranking title of his career by defeating Barry Hawkins 9–8 in the final.
John Higgins made the 123rd official maximum break in the fifth frame of his last 64 match against Sam Craigie. It was Higgins' eighth professional maximum.

## Prize fund

The breakdown of prize money for this year is shown below:
The "rolling 147 prize" for a maximum break stood at £10,000.

## Main draw
### Top half
#### Section 1

| Last 128 Best of 7 frames | Last 128 Best of 7 frames | Last 64 Best of 7 frames | Last 64 Best of 7 frames | Last 32 Best of 7 frames | Last 32 Best of 7 frames | Last 16 Best of 7 frames | Last 16 Best of 7 frames |
| Judd Trump (1) | w/d | | | | |
| Peter Ebdon | w/o | | | | |
| Peter Ebdon | w/o | Peter Ebdon | 4 | | |
| | | Adam Duffy | 3 | | |
| Michael Wild | 2 | Adam Duffy | 3 | | |
| Adam Duffy | 4 | | | | |
| Adam Duffy | 4 | | | Peter Ebdon | 2 |
| | | | | Scott Donaldson | 4 |
| Kurt Dunham | 4 | | | Scott Donaldson | 4 |
| Christopher Keogan | 2 | | | | |
| Christopher Keogan | 2 | Kurt Dunham | 3 | | |
| | | Scott Donaldson | 4 | | |
| Robert Milkins | 1 | Scott Donaldson | 4 | | |
| Scott Donaldson | 4 | | | | | | |
| Scott Donaldson | 4 | | | | | Scott Donaldson | 2 |
| | | | | | | Hossein Vafaei | 4 |
| Stephen Maguire (16) | 3 | | | | | Hossein Vafaei | 4 |
| Alan McManus | 4 | | | | | | |
| Alan McManus | 4 | Alan McManus | 0 | | | | |
| | | Sanderson Lam | 4 | | | | |
| Wang Yuchen | 1 | Sanderson Lam | 4 | | | | |
| Sanderson Lam | 4 | | | | | | |
| Sanderson Lam | 4 | | | Sanderson Lam | 1 | | |
| | | | | Hossein Vafaei | 4 |
| Zak Surety | 4 | | | Hossein Vafaei | 4 |
| Darryl Hill | 3 | | | | |
| Darryl Hill | 3 | Zak Surety | 2 | | |
| | | Hossein Vafaei | 4 | | |
| Hossein Vafaei | 4 | Hossein Vafaei | 4 | | |
| Rod Lawler | 3 | | | | |

#### Section 2

| Last 128 Best of 7 frames | Last 128 Best of 7 frames | Last 64 Best of 7 frames | Last 64 Best of 7 frames | Last 32 Best of 7 frames | Last 32 Best of 7 frames | Last 16 Best of 7 frames | Last 16 Best of 7 frames |
| Zhang Yong | 2 | | | | |
| Kurt Maflin | 4 | | | | |
| Kurt Maflin | 4 | Kurt Maflin | 4 | | |
| | | Alex Borg | 1 | | |
| Alex Borg | 4 | Alex Borg | 1 | | |
| Dechawat Poomjaeng | 2 | | | | |
| Dechawat Poomjaeng | 2 | | | Kurt Maflin | 4 |
| | | | | Josh Boileau | 1 |
| Mike Dunn | 3 | | | Josh Boileau | 1 |
| Josh Boileau | 4 | | | | |
| Josh Boileau | 4 | Josh Boileau | 4 | | |
| | | Hamza Akbar | 2 | | |
| Ali Carter (9) | w/d | Hamza Akbar | 2 | | |
| Hamza Akbar | w/o | | | | | | |
| Hamza Akbar | w/o | | | | | Kurt Maflin | 2 |
| | | | | | | Mark King | 4 |
| Fergal O'Brien | 4 | | | | | Mark King | 4 |
| Tian Pengfei | 2 | | | | | | |
| Tian Pengfei | 2 | Fergal O'Brien | 4 | | | | |
| | | Mitchell Mann | 0 | | | | |
| Thor Chuan Leong | 1 | Mitchell Mann | 0 | | | | |
| Mitchell Mann | 4 | | | | | | |
| Mitchell Mann | 4 | | | Fergal O'Brien | 0 | | |
| | | | | Mark King | 4 |
| Mark King | 4 | | | Mark King | 4 |
| Igor Figueiredo | 1 | | | | |
| Igor Figueiredo | 1 | Mark King | 4 | | |
| | | Liang Wenbo (8) | 2 | | |
| Liang Wenbo (8) | 4 | Liang Wenbo (8) | 2 | | |
| Nigel Bond | 1 | | | | |

#### Section 3

| Last 128 Best of 7 frames | Last 128 Best of 7 frames | Last 64 Best of 7 frames | Last 64 Best of 7 frames | Last 32 Best of 7 frames | Last 32 Best of 7 frames | Last 16 Best of 7 frames | Last 16 Best of 7 frames |
| Ronnie O'Sullivan (5) | 4 | | | | |
| David John | 1 | | | | |
| David John | 1 | Ronnie O'Sullivan (5) | 4 | | |
| | | Jimmy White | 1 | | |
| Gareth Allen | 2 | Jimmy White | 1 | | |
| Jimmy White | 4 | | | | |
| Jimmy White | 4 | | | Ronnie O'Sullivan (5) | 4 |
| | | | | Zhang Anda | 0 |
| Zhang Anda | 4 | | | Zhang Anda | 0 |
| Ian Preece | 0 | | | | |
| Ian Preece | 0 | Zhang Anda | 4 | | |
| | | Chris Wakelin | 3 | | |
| Chris Wakelin | 4 | Chris Wakelin | 3 | | |
| James Wattana | 1 | | | | | | |
| James Wattana | 1 | | | | | Ronnie O'Sullivan (5) | 3 |
| | | | | | | Kyren Wilson (12) | 4 |
| Kyren Wilson (12) | 4 | | | | | Kyren Wilson (12) | 4 |
| Hammad Miah | 2 | | | | | | |
| Hammad Miah | 2 | Kyren Wilson (12) | 4 | | | | |
| | | Jordan Brown | 2 | | | | |
| Jordan Brown | 4 | Jordan Brown | 2 | | | | |
| Ben Woollaston | 2 | | | | | | |
| Ben Woollaston | 2 | | | Kyren Wilson (12) | 4 | | |
| | | | | Sunny Akani | 2 |
| Cao Yupeng | 1 | | | Sunny Akani | 2 |
| Sunny Akani | 4 | | | | |
| Sunny Akani | 4 | Sunny Akani | 4 | | |
| | | Mark Davis | 3 | | |
| Mark Davis | 4 | Mark Davis | 3 | | |
| Jason Weston | 0 | | | | |

#### Section 4

| Last 128 Best of 7 frames | Last 128 Best of 7 frames | Last 64 Best of 7 frames | Last 64 Best of 7 frames | Last 32 Best of 7 frames | Last 32 Best of 7 frames | Last 16 Best of 7 frames | Last 16 Best of 7 frames |
| Matthew Selt | 2 | | | | |
| Jamie Curtis-Barrett | 4 | | | | |
| Jamie Curtis-Barrett | 4 | Jamie Curtis-Barrett | 1 | | |
| | | David Gilbert | 4 | | |
| Zhao Xintong | 1 | David Gilbert | 4 | | |
| David Gilbert | 4 | | | | |
| David Gilbert | 4 | | | David Gilbert | 2 |
| | | | | Mark Williams (13) | 4 |
| Craig Steadman | 4 | | | Mark Williams (13) | 4 |
| Alfie Burden | 1 | | | | |
| Alfie Burden | 1 | Craig Steadman | 0 | | |
| | | Mark Williams (13) | 4 | | |
| Mark Williams (13) | 4 | Mark Williams (13) | 4 | | |
| David Grace | 2 | | | | | | |
| David Grace | 2 | | | | | Mark Williams (13) | 4 |
| | | | | | | John Higgins (4) | 1 |
| Zhou Yuelong | 4 | | | | | John Higgins (4) | 1 |
| Matthew Stevens | 3 | | | | | | |
| Matthew Stevens | 3 | Zhou Yuelong | 4 | | | | |
| | | Allan Taylor | 0 | | | | |
| Allan Taylor | 4 | Allan Taylor | 0 | | | | |
| Li Hang | 2 | | | | | | |
| Li Hang | 2 | | | Zhou Yuelong | 0 | | |
| | | | | John Higgins (4) | 4 |
| Sam Craigie | 4 | | | John Higgins (4) | 4 |
| Jamie Jones | 0 | | | | |
| Jamie Jones | 0 | Sam Craigie | 1 | | |
| | | John Higgins (4) | 4 | | |
| John Higgins (4) | 4 | John Higgins (4) | 4 | | |
| Paul Davison | 0 | | | | |

### Bottom half
#### Section 5

| Last 128 Best of 7 frames | Last 128 Best of 7 frames | Last 64 Best of 7 frames | Last 64 Best of 7 frames | Last 32 Best of 7 frames | Last 32 Best of 7 frames | Last 16 Best of 7 frames | Last 16 Best of 7 frames |
| Shaun Murphy (3) | 0 | | | | |
| Luca Brecel | 4 | | | | |
| Luca Brecel | 4 | Luca Brecel | 4 | | |
| | | Jamie Cope | 2 | | |
| Adam Stefanow | 2 | Jamie Cope | 2 | | |
| Jamie Cope | 4 | | | | |
| Jamie Cope | 4 | | | Luca Brecel | 1 |
| | | | | Michael White | 4 |
| Graeme Dott | 0 | | | Michael White | 4 |
| Michael White | 4 | | | | |
| Michael White | 4 | Michael White | 4 | | |
| | | Chen Zhe | 3 | | |
| Chen Zhe | 4 | Chen Zhe | 3 | | |
| Ross Muir | 1 | | | | | | |
| Ross Muir | 1 | | | | | Michael White | 4 |
| | | | | | | Dominic Dale | 2 |
| Ricky Walden (14) | 4 | | | | | Dominic Dale | 2 |
| Sean O'Sullivan | 2 | | | | | | |
| Sean O'Sullivan | 2 | Ricky Walden (14) | 4 | | | | |
| | | Kritsanut Lertsattayathorn | 3 | | | | |
| Kritsanut Lertsattayathorn | 4 | Kritsanut Lertsattayathorn | 3 | | | | |
| Rory McLeod | 2 | | | | | | |
| Rory McLeod | 2 | | | Ricky Walden (14) | 2 | | |
| | | | | Dominic Dale | 4 |
| Tom Ford | 4 | | | Dominic Dale | 4 |
| Ian Burns | 2 | | | | |
| Ian Burns | 2 | Tom Ford | 0 | | |
| | | Dominic Dale | 4 | | |
| Dominic Dale | 4 | Dominic Dale | 4 | | |
| Joe Swail | 2 | | | | |

#### Section 6

| Last 128 Best of 7 frames | Last 128 Best of 7 frames | Last 64 Best of 7 frames | Last 64 Best of 7 frames | Last 32 Best of 7 frames | Last 32 Best of 7 frames | Last 16 Best of 7 frames | Last 16 Best of 7 frames |
| Mei Xiwen | 1 | | | | |
| Duane Jones | 4 | | | | |
| Duane Jones | 4 | Duane Jones | 0 | | |
| | | Fraser Patrick | 4 | | |
| Fraser Patrick | 4 | Fraser Patrick | 4 | | |
| Marc Davis | 1 | | | | |
| Marc Davis | 1 | | | Fraser Patrick | 0 |
| | | | | Barry Hawkins (11) | 4 |
| Stuart Carrington | 3 | | | Barry Hawkins (11) | 4 |
| Michael Holt | 4 | | | | |
| Michael Holt | 4 | Michael Holt | 1 | | |
| | | Barry Hawkins (11) | 4 | | |
| Barry Hawkins (11) | 4 | Barry Hawkins (11) | 4 | | |
| Martin O'Donnell | 0 | | | | | | |
| Martin O'Donnell | 0 | | | | | Barry Hawkins (11) | 4 |
| | | | | | | Jack Lisowski | 0 |
| Jack Lisowski | 4 | | | | | Jack Lisowski | 0 |
| David Lilley | 3 | | | | | | |
| David Lilley | 3 | Jack Lisowski | 4 | | | | |
| | | John Astley | 1 | | | | |
| John Astley | 4 | John Astley | 1 | | | | |
| Xiao Guodong | 3 | | | | | | |
| Xiao Guodong | 3 | | | Jack Lisowski | 4 | | |
| | | | | Joe Perry (6) | 3 |
| Elliot Slessor | 2 | | | Joe Perry (6) | 3 |
| Jimmy Robertson | 4 | | | | |
| Jimmy Robertson | 4 | Jimmy Robertson | 3 | | |
| | | Joe Perry (6) | 4 | | |
| Joe Perry (6) | 4 | Joe Perry (6) | 4 | | |
| Itaro Santos | 0 | | | | |

#### Section 7

| Last 128 Best of 7 frames | Last 128 Best of 7 frames | Last 64 Best of 7 frames | Last 64 Best of 7 frames | Last 32 Best of 7 frames | Last 32 Best of 7 frames | Last 16 Best of 7 frames | Last 16 Best of 7 frames |
| Mark Allen (7) | 4 | | | | |
| Mark Joyce | 1 | | | | |
| Mark Joyce | 1 | Mark Allen (7) | 4 | | |
| | | Michael Georgiou | 2 | | |
| Michael Georgiou | 4 | Michael Georgiou | 2 | | |
| Patrick Wallace | 2 | | | | |
| Patrick Wallace | 2 | | | Mark Allen (7) | 4 |
| | | | | Robin Hull | 1 |
| Robin Hull | 4 | | | Robin Hull | 1 |
| James Cahill | 2 | | | | |
| James Cahill | 2 | Robin Hull | 4 | | |
| | | Lee Walker | 2 | | |
| Lee Walker | 4 | Lee Walker | 2 | | |
| Rhys Clark | 2 | | | | | | |
| Rhys Clark | 2 | | | | | Mark Allen (7) | 4 |
| | | | | | | Gary Wilson | 3 |
| Marco Fu (10) | 4 | | | | | Gary Wilson | 3 |
| Ryan Day | 3 | | | | | | |
| Ryan Day | 3 | Marco Fu (10) | 3 | | | | |
| | | Sam Baird | 4 | | | | |
| Noppon Saengkham | 3 | Sam Baird | 4 | | | | |
| Sam Baird | 4 | | | | | | |
| Sam Baird | 4 | | | Sam Baird | 3 | | |
| | | | | Gary Wilson | 4 |
| Andrew Higginson | 4 | | | Gary Wilson | 4 |
| Daniel Wells | 1 | | | | |
| Daniel Wells | 1 | Andrew Higginson | 3 | | |
| | | Gary Wilson | 4 | | |
| Gary Wilson | 4 | Gary Wilson | 4 | | |
| Peter Lines | 0 | | | | |

#### Section 8

| Last 128 Best of 7 frames | Last 128 Best of 7 frames | Last 64 Best of 7 frames | Last 64 Best of 7 frames | Last 32 Best of 7 frames | Last 32 Best of 7 frames | Last 16 Best of 7 frames | Last 16 Best of 7 frames |
| Ashley Hugill | 0 | | | | |
| Ken Doherty | 4 | | | | |
| Ken Doherty | 4 | Ken Doherty | 3 | | |
| | | Anthony Hamilton | 4 | | |
| Anthony Hamilton | 4 | Anthony Hamilton | 4 | | |
| Boonyarit Keattikun | 2 | | | | |
| Boonyarit Keattikun | 2 | | | Anthony Hamilton | 4 |
| | | | | Anthony McGill (15) | 2 |
| Aditya Mehta | 4 | | | Anthony McGill (15) | 2 |
| Sydney Wilson | 2 | | | | |
| Sydney Wilson | 2 | Aditya Mehta | 3 | | |
| | | Anthony McGill (15) | 4 | | |
| Anthony McGill (15) | 4 | Anthony McGill (15) | 4 | | |
| Fang Xiongman | 2 | | | | | | |
| Fang Xiongman | 2 | | | | | Anthony Hamilton | 4 |
| | | | | | | Yan Bingtao | 3 |
| Eden Sharav | 4 | | | | | Yan Bingtao | 3 |
| Oliver Lines | 1 | | | | | | |
| Oliver Lines | 1 | Eden Sharav | 0 | | | | |
| | | Yan Bingtao | 4 | | | | |
| Steven Hallworth | 1 | Yan Bingtao | 4 | | | | |
| Yan Bingtao | 4 | | | | | | |
| Yan Bingtao | 4 | | | Yan Bingtao | 4 | | |
| | | | | Robbie Williams | 3 |
| Robbie Williams | 4 | | | Robbie Williams | 3 |
| Thepchaiya Un-Nooh | 2 | | | | |
| Thepchaiya Un-Nooh | 2 | Robbie Williams | 4 | | |
| | | Yu Delu | 1 | | |
| Ding Junhui (2) | 2 | Yu Delu | 1 | | |
| Yu Delu | 4 | | | | |

### Finals

| Quarter-finals Best of 9 frames | Quarter-finals Best of 9 frames | Semi-finals Best of 11 frames | Semi-finals Best of 11 frames | Final Best of 17 frames | Final Best of 17 frames |
| Hossein Vafaei | 3 | | |
| Mark King | 5 | | |
| Mark King | 5 | Mark King | 6 |
| | | Kyren Wilson (12) | 2 |
| Kyren Wilson (12) | 5 | Kyren Wilson (12) | 2 |
| Mark Williams (13) | 4 | | | | |
| Mark Williams (13) | 4 | | | Mark King | 9 |
| | | | | Barry Hawkins (11) | 8 |
| Michael White | 2 | | | Barry Hawkins (11) | 8 |
| Barry Hawkins (11) | 5 | | | | |
| Barry Hawkins (11) | 5 | Barry Hawkins (11) | 6 | | |
| | | Anthony Hamilton | 5 |
| Mark Allen (7) | 2 | Anthony Hamilton | 5 |
| Anthony Hamilton | 5 | | |

## Final

Final: Best of 17 frames. Referee: Terry Camilleri. Titanic Exhibition Centre, Belfast, Northern Ireland, 20 November 2016. :
| Mark King England | 9–8 | Barry Hawkins (11) England |
| Afternoon: 1–85 (85), 6–118 (113), 126–11 (110), 49–80, 1–60, 14–64, 66–18, 90–1 Evening: 95–5 (62), 101–13 (100), 83–1, 76–6 (54), 0–73 (73), 40–82 (76), 65–28, 65–72, 84–33 |||
| 110 | Highest break | 113 |
| 2 | Century breaks | 1 |
| 4 | 50+ breaks | 4 |