The 2026 Welsh Open witnessed one of its most shocking moments when Jack Lisowski lost his composure during a high-stakes clash against Xiao Guodong. In a moment of pure frustration during the third frame, the 34-year-old “Jack-Pot” furiously whacked the cue ball off the table.
The Incident: After blasting the ball off the playing surface, Lisowski retrieved it and handed it to the referee before storming out of the arena.
The Concession: By walking away from the table, Lisowski effectively conceded the third frame to his opponent.
The sudden exit left the audience at Venue Cymru in a state of shock. TNT Sports commentators were vocal about the “wild” behavior from the world-class potter:
The Critique: Broadcast experts described the outburst as “poor” and noted that the arena was left “aghast” by the sudden turn of events.
The Cooling-Off Period: Commentators suggested Lisowski needed a few minutes to regain his mental focus after becoming clearly unhappy with his own performance.
Proving his resilience, Lisowski eventually returned to the table and managed to steady his nerves.
The Result: Despite the mid-match meltdown, Lisowski secured a 4-3 victory over Xiao Guodong.
The Next Challenge: The win books Lisowski a spot in the last 16, where he is scheduled to face Jackson Page for a place in the quarter-finals.
Following the match, the reigning Northern Ireland Open champion was candid about his current mental state and fluctuating form.
Inconsistent Form: Lisowski admitted his game is currently not where he wants it to be, describing the experience of playing while struggling as “frustrating”.
Practice Habits: To find his rhythm, he revealed he had put in two hours of practice the previous night and additional time on the day of the match.
The Skill Gap: He noted that when he is “flying,” the game is effortless, but the distance between his best and worst game is currently wider than many other professionals on the tour.
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