Oliver Lines is missing dad’s advice after early exit at Northern Ireland Open

OLIVER LINES crashed out of the Northern Ireland Open at the opening hurdle – and admits he may have done better if his dad was there to help him.
Oliver Lines. Picture: PAOliver Lines. Picture: PA
Oliver Lines. Picture: PA

The Leeds player, whose dad, Peter, is also on the professional tour, went down 4-1 against 2015 world champion Stuart Bingham in Milton Keynes.

World No.115 Oliver, ranked 26 places below Peter, was forced to withdraw from last month’s English Open after coming into contact with his dad, who tested positive for Covid-19 and was also unable to play in the tournament.

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Oliver, 25, is constantly picking his dad’s brain and reckons family ties can catapult him to glory on the baize.

“I think it helps me having my dad there [on the tour],” he said of the 50-year-old, who also lost in the first round on Monday.

“With the knowledge that he’s got, he can only benefit me. I just wish I could talk to him more during the frame and I’d probably do a lot better!

“If I ever need any advice or a bit of geeing up, my dad’s always the man I would go to.

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“I don’t feel like I did a right lot wrong, but obviously you don’t need to against a top player like Stuart. I think 4-1 is a bit harsh on me but against top players like that you need to take all the chances you get.

“I feel like I’ve got a chance no matter who I play and it’s all on my own game. I’m looking forward to [the UK Championship] – I always like playing the longer matches and it would be nice to have a run.”

Oliver will now turn his attention to the UK Championship, which will also be held behind closed doors at the Marshall Arena rather than its traditional York venue owing to Covid-19 restrictions.

There he will meet world No.17 but out-of-sorts Gary Wilson, who went down 4-2 in his first round match at the Northern Ireland Open against Rory McLeod on Monday.

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Elsewhere on Tuesday, York’s Ashley Hugill fell to a 4-2 defeat against Irish player Fergal O’Brien.

Hugill, 26, took the lead with a first frame break of 69 but efforts of 68 and 52 from O’Brien dashed the Yorkshire player’s hopes of progression.

And it doesn’t get any easier for Hugill next, facing world No.5 and 2020 World Championship finalist Kyren Wilson in his first round match at the UK Championship.

* Watch the Northern Ireland Open live on Eurosport, Eurosport app, and stream on discovery+

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