A yellow weather warning remains in place as Storm Ashley hit Northern Ireland overnight. The first named storm of the season is expected to bring winds of up to 80mph in parts of the UK. Temporary flood defences have been erected along parts of the River Lagan in Belfast in anticipation of the storm.

THE Northern Ireland Open is here – and some huge names are set to compete in the second Home Nations Series event of the season. Judd Trump will be aiming to retain the Alex Higgins Trophy

O'Sullivan has previously revealed that he struggles with his fitness towards the end of the snooker season. It has now been confirmed that the 48-year-old has pulled out of the Northern Ireland Open, with the World Snooker Tour (WST) citing medical reasons.

Last season, the seven-time world champion skipped EIGHT events. And missing Belfast means it is the third tournament he has entered without competing this term.

THE Northern Ireland Open is right around the corner with some of snooker’s biggest names set to compete. Belfast hosts the second Home Nations Series event of the season after

Seven-time world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan has pulled out of the Northern Ireland Open for medical reasons. The Belfast event, which starts on Sunday, will be the three straight tournament O'Sullivan has missed after he sat out both the British Open and the Wuhan Open.

Seven-time world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan has withdrawn from the BetVictor Northern Ireland Open due to medical reasons, the World Snooker Tour (WST) has announced.