Jack Lisowski has made feelings clear on Ronnie O’Sullivan | Other | Sport

Jack Lisowski has opened up about his admiration for snooker icons Ronnie O’Sullivan and John Higgins. The fan favourite is still in contention at the Northern Ireland Open, where he will take on reigning champion Kyren Wilson in the quarter-finals.

Jackpot, 34, is often described as the finest player on the tour yet to claim a ranking title, with his aggressive style endearing him to supporters throughout his career. His loyal following will be desperate to see him finally fulfil his enormous potential by triumphing in a big event. Like countless others in the sport, the Cheltenham star has long looked up to seven-time world champion O’Sullivan. When Eurosport asked him earlier this year about his snooker heroes, Lisowski said of the Rocket: “He’s just a god, isn’t he?

“He carried the game for the last 20 years. He’s one of the most exciting British sportsmen ever.” Sharing a touching childhood memory of meeting O’Sullivan, Lisowski recalled: “At the Welsh Open – I think I was like 12 – I cut my arm really bad on a glass door and I had it in a sling. He beat someone 5-0 and then he signed it after. I was buzzing.”

O’Sullivan opted out of the Belfast tournament as he continues to manage his tournament schedule. Higgins has been in action, suffering a 5-2 defeat to Judd Trump in the opening quarter-final.

Lisowski continued: “[O’Sullivan] is closely followed by John Higgins. He was my idol when I was growing up for several years.” Lisowski has endured a challenging year both personally and professionally, following the sudden passing of his father in March. He made a swift return to the game the following month for the World Championship qualifiers, where he was defeated by Zak Surety.

Reflecting on the personal tragedy and its impact on his performance, he confessed to TNT Sports that he had rushed back into action. He said: “It’s up and down. It feels different now.

“I didn’t have a lot of fight in me the first few months [following his dad’s passing], but now I’m just able to play, and I don’t feel like crying when I’m playing.

“I played like a month after my dad died, in the Worlds, and every frame I just felt so emotional. I wish I’d had longer off. But I kept going. Obviously, it doesn’t get easier, but you just get used to it.”

The other quarter-finals in Belfast will feature an all-Northern Irish clash between Mark Allen and Jordan Brown, as well as a match-up between Tom Ford and Zhou Yuelong. The latter progressed to the last eight with a bye after Ali Carter withdrew for personal reasons.