Alan McManus and Dominic Dale headline the Northern Ireland Open commentary

The Northern Ireland Open kicks off its long-awaited match on 19 October 2026, when Judd Trump takes on Martin O'Donnell. For those tuning in, the commentary is delivered across HBO Max Europe and TNT Sports 4 HD (UK), with a live report from the field by Rachel Casey. The match is due to kick off at 19:00 UK time, so set your clocks accordingly before the first gun fires.

Who is commenting and where to watch

The two-man commentary team for this one is a familiar pairing for anyone who has followed snooker coverage closely. Alan McManus brings the main commentary, supported by Dominic Dale, while Rachel Casey provides the on-the-ground report. All three are broadcast over HBO Max Europe and TNT Sports 4 HD (UK), giving viewers a full feed from kickoff to the final knock.

For readers who remember this pair from earlier seasons, they have cut together before on the same HBO Max Europe and TNT Sports 4 HD feed. Their last shared commentary covered a different match entirely, but the chemistry and coverage quality have held up well since, making them a comfortable choice for a match of this size.

Meet the team

Alan McManus, born on 21 January 1971, is a Scottish retired professional snooker player who now serves as a commentator and pundit across ITV, BBC and TNT coverage. A mainstay of the world's top sixteen during the 1990s and 2000s, he has won two ranking events: the 1994 Dubai Classic and the 1996 Thailand Open. He also competed in the World Championship semi-finals in 1992, 1993 and 2016, which speaks to a player who has spent his share of time at the very top of the heap. Alan McManus Wikipedia

Dominic Dale, by contrast, is a Welsh snooker player who retired professionally at 53. He qualified for the World Championship as a young player, but his most notable career moment came when BBC Sport reported on his retirement from professional competition. Now he plays the role of co-commentator with a quiet confidence that suits his age and experience.

Rachel Casey rounds out the team as the on-site reporter, bringing the visual and play-by-play coverage to complement the two commentators' analysis. Her handle on social media is rachelcasey11, and she has been active in gathering coverage ahead of this match.

The matchup itself

On the field, Judd Trump takes on Martin O'Donnell in what the Northern Ireland Open has called its long-awaited match. With both players under scrutiny and a full commentary team in place, this is set to be one of the better-covered events of the season. Watch it over HBO Max Europe and TNT Sports 4 HD (UK), keep an eye on Rachel Casey's live report, and let the analysis from Alan McManus and Dominic Dale guide you through the knock-out.

Article generated: 19 October 2026, 19:02 GMT