Northern Ireland Open: Carnage for top seeds in string of Belfast upsets

Shaun Murphy was beaten on the opening night in Belfast (Picture: Getty Images)

It was a day of shocks as the Northern Ireland Open got underway on Sunday, with five of the world’s top 16 falling at their first hurdles in Belfast.

The trip to the Waterfront Hall has become one that the players look forward to most on the professional circuit, but it was only a short visit for some of snooker’s biggest names.

Xiao Guodong was the first top 16 player to be beaten, edged out 4-3 by Sam Craigie in the opening session of the tournament.

Mark Selby was a bigger shock casualty as he was downed 4-2 by fellow Leicester cueist Louis Heathcote in the aftern...