Northern Ireland Open snooker - Jack Lisowski books final spot with thumping three-century semi-final win over Zhou Yuelong

Jack Lisowski hit three centuries on his way to trouncing Zhou Yuelong 6-1 in a pulverising opening semi-final of the Northern Ireland Open in Belfast.

After scrapping his way to the first frame at a packed Waterfront Hall, Lisowski quickly totted up 333 points without reply as breaks of 125, 124, 66, 53 and 125 helped him coast 5-1 clear with Zhou preventing the whitewash by pinching the fifth frame on the colours.

Recent English Open finalist Zhou had the chance to extend the contest, but Lisowski fluked the final red before clearing to the pink to seal his place in Sunday's final.

He will face world No. 1 Judd Trump or Antrim favourite Mark Allen for the Alex Higgins Trophy and £100,000 first prize as he chases a first ranking title after six previous defeats in finals.

"I think I can improve," said Lisowski on TNT Sports.

"When I get a bit excited...if I'm more used to being there, I'd be a bit calmer.

"It is a fantastic place to play. If you don't enjoy your snooker on days like that, you might as well quit.

"At least I've got a chance to break my duck tomorrow.

"I've got to have a good night's rest and have a chilled out day [before the final].

"I'm going to really want to win.

"It is a massive game for me."

The second semi-final gets underway at 19:00 on Saturday night.

In goes the match-ball pink to see out the victory. He is through to the final to take on Judd Trump or Mark Allen in Sunday's best-of-17 frame final in Belfast.

A huge fluke for Jack as a red to green pocket doesn't drop, but red flies across table and into yellow bag. On the pink too. Looks like end of match coming up.

Into the lead then in the frame. Would fancy him to take out this frame here and now. Facing red to left middle. Tickles it in and now down to final red with colours all on spots.

Zhou trying to play the hold-up man here as he embarks upon what he hopes will be his second winning frame of the match. Plodding in comparison to Jackpot, but you get no extra marks for speed.

Zhou won a scrappy fifth frame, but has been well and truly swamped by the Jackpot power game. Into the pack off the blue, but he then misses a red across to right centre.

Couldn't happen to a nice guy than Lisowski, a bloke who makes plenty of time for snooker fans across the UK and beyond. This looks like the lap of honour as he crunches home another sensational long red. Sweet, sweet cueing.

Well, normal service has been resumed as Jack moves one frame from the winning post. Black doesn't matter. 125 of very best from Jackpot Jack Lisowski.

Break not been going for six minutes. Barely time to make a cup of tea and the frame is done and dusted. Heading for a third ton of the day.

"The last frame was just a bump in the road, the rest of it has been superb," says Neal Foulds on TNT Sports after a safety blunder by Zhou sets up Jackpot for another riveting break.

Looked like 5-0, but Zhou takes out blue, pink and black to trail 4-1. Lisowski making the fatal error on the blue to stick it up and Zhao did the rest. A 25-minute frame. Still work to be done by Jackpot.

Some fine shots being played by both players in these safety exchanges. Zhou showing some real resolve to keep Lisowski at bay from distance.

In goes the double on a red from Jack, but he misses green to left middle on the cusp of 5-0. Down to the final four balls. In goes brown from Zhou, but not nicely on blue to left middle. And he can't trickle in the blue. Lisowski then misses mid-range blue.

Heading for final red now in this break. Tricky red to the green bag is key to the frame surely, but he misses it. Shake of the head. Didn't like the look of that.

This is a real chance to produce the counter punch after the Jackpot potting show. Not much difficult left on this table.

Everything that moves seems to be disappearing down pockets today, but he then misses a longish red. Which nobody seen coming. A lifeline for Zhou.

Bangs in a pink at pace to left centre before another red appears to left middle. And on goes this latest contribution. Zhou rapidly heading for the point of no return in this contest.

In goes another long red. Lands nicely on the brown, and this is another chance to build a lead in the fifth frame.

Right then, boys are back on the baize for frame five of a possible 11.