Jack Lisowski and Ali Carter bite the dust as big names continue to fall in UK Championship snooker qualifying after Luca Brecel exit
By Desmond Kane
Updated 26/11/2025 at 08:58 GMT
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A bloodbath of the big names continued in UK Championship qualifying in Wigan on Tuesday when new Northern Ireland Open champion Jack Lisowski and two-time world finalist Ali Carter both suffered shock early exits before the big show begins at the York Barbican on Saturday. 2023 world champion Luca Brecel suffered a 6-3 defeat to world No. 106 Ian Burns at the Robin Park Leisure Centre on Monday.
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Jack Lisowski claimed the first ranking title of his professional career at the Northern Ireland Open last month, but will not be able to build on his landmark victory at the 49th UK Championship in York.
The world No. 22 produced a highest break of only 70 to trail world No. 77 Louis Heathcote 4-2 in qualifying at Wigan's Robin Park Leisure Centre on Tuesday before losing the last two frames to crash out 6-2.
The man dubbed 'Jackpot' almost reached the 2022 UK Championship final, but watched Mark Allen hit back from 5-3 down to win an epic semi-final 6-5 on the final colours before claiming the trophy with a 10-7 win over Ding Junhui.
While Lisowski will have a fortnight off before heading to Edinburgh for the Scottish Open and an opening match with Wang Yuchen on December 16, Heathcote will face Long Zehuang, a 6-1 winner against Aaron Hill, on Thursday afternoon for a last-32 spot.
Two-time UK semi-finalist Ali Carter is also out of this year's competition after suffering a 6-4 loss to Latvian teenager Artemijs Zizins, who described the win over the world No. 19 as the best of his career, having recovered from 4-3 down to reel off the final three frames.
"This is my biggest win," said 19-year-old Zizins, who will face former world seniors champion David Lilley, a 6-3 winner over Ricky Walden, on Thursday for a place at the York Barbican.
"It was a very difficult game. In the last frame, there was a lot of pressure. I had to concentrate on every shot.
"Now I need to rest before I even think about my next match," commented the world No. 80.
"I have felt in very good form for the last two months, and I want to play in my own style."
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With 2023 Crucible winner Luca Brecel and world No. 17 Chris Wakelin also suffering early exits on Monday, the price to be paid for dropping out of the elite top 16 can be severe, as 2024 Crucible runner-up Jak Jones found out.
The Welshman made two excellent century breaks, including a sparkling 131 in the third frame, but was eliminated 6-2 by Brecel's fellow Belgian professional Julien Leclercq, who next takes on He Guoqiang for a finals spot.
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Elsewhere, recent British Open runner-up Anthony McGill joined the casualty list as he was filleted 6-1 by fellow Scot Scott Donaldson, who compiled four breaks over 60 to set up a meeting with Stuart Bingham in the final round of qualifiers on Wednesday evening.
The 2015 world champion Bingham claimed the final two frames to edge out Liam Pullen, fresh from producing a maiden 147 on Saturday, courtesy of a 6-5 win as he bids to improve upon his UK best of three semi-final appearances.
The sport's youngest professional, 14-year-old Michal Szubarczyk of Poland, lost 6-3 to Noppon Saengkham, but had the consolation of producing his first century on tour with a fine 106 in the fifth frame.
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Meanwhile, 2008 finalist Marco Fu, who has returned to action from a fractured elbow, was forced to abandon his match with Zhou Yuelong trailing 4-0 at the mid-session interval due to health issues.
The final qualifying round for the 49th UK Championship takes place on Wednesday and Thursday in Wigan before the main event is staged at the Barbican from November 29 to December 7, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
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Watch and stream the 2025/26 snooker season, including the UK Championship, live on TNT Sports and discovery+
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