Rotherham snooker ace Ashley Carty lifted by great win at Northern Ireland Open

ASHLEY CARTY stunned world No.16 Jack Lisowski at the Northern Ireland Open and the Rotherham potter reckons he can be a match for anyone on his day.

World No.113 Carty, who reached the World Championship at the Crucible in the summer and recently secured a two-year card on the professional tour, toppled three-time ranking event finalist Lisowski 4-1 in Milton Keynes.

The 25-year-old edged a scrappy encounter but believes he has what it takes to beat the best as he targets the last 16 of a ranking event for the first time in his career.

"It was quite a strange game - both of us didn't really play that well and we both had a lot of chances," he said.

"Jack let me off the hook quite a few times and more than I expected, but I just had to try and dig in and do what I had to do. 

"I knew he was still going to go for his shots because that's how he plays - I knew I was always going to get chances.

"It's a bit of a strange one - I know Jack's a fantastic player and I love watching him play. He struggled tonight so he really made it easy for me. 

"I'm a bit nervous getting over the line and taking a scalp like Jack, no matter how he played, it's always nice to get the win over players like that.

"I know if I play well I can give anyone a game or beat anyone on my day. No game's easy on the tour, but if I play well I'm capable of beating anyone."

Carty reached the last 32 of the European Masters and the second round of German Masters qualifying but slumped to defeat at the first hurdle in October's English Open.

He delivered an assured performance in the second Home Nations event of the season, however, wrapping up a game with few breaks of note with a gutsy 62 to book a date with world No.96 Andy Hicks in the second round.

The Rotherham star has had a mixed start to the season but reckons churning out results when he's not at his best can signal an upturn in consistency.

"I've had an okay start to the season and I've just not been playing well consistently," he added.

"I play well one game an then struggle the next, and I've done that a couple of times this season.

"To win not playing at my best, it's important to do that - I'm really happy to get the win and hopefully I can up my game a little bit more and go on a nice little run."

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

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