Judd Trump took two more steps towards making 100 century breaks in a single season as he got the defence of his Weide Cup World Open title underway with a 5-0 thrashing of Xing Zihao in Yushan.
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Trump now has 76 tons this season and needs 24 more over the next five tournaments to get his tally into three figures. The first player to make 100 centuries this season willl earn a £100,000 bonus.
China’s Xing scored just 40 points in the match as world number one Trump rattled in breaks of 64, 100, 111 and 98 to win in just 58 minutes and set up a last-64 clash with Long Zehuang.
“I’m very happy to play that well in my first match, in the first round you just want to get through as easily as possible,” said 30-time ranking event winner Trump. “Every time I play in China I try to enjoy it. It’s special to come back here having won last year. I feel I am playing to a consistent level and it always takes a good performance to beat me.”
Home favourite Ding Junhui also scored heavily in a 5-1 win over Jiang Jun, knocking in runs of 81, 141, 50, 130 and 93.
Mark Davis has been a bogey player for John Higgins over the years – notably knocking the Scot out of both the UK and World Championship during the 2012/13 season – but on this occasion Higgins cruised to a 5-1 win with breaks of 50, 111, 126 and 59.
“Mark has often had the better of me, throughout my career,” said Higgins, who now meets Robbie Williams. “He didn’t really show up today, but I played well. At this time of the season, everyone has something to aim for, whether it’s staying on the tour, trying to get into the Players Championship and Tour Championship, or to be a seed for the Crucible. There’s a lot riding on it. I’m no different, I’d love to have a good run and secure my places.”
BetVictor Welsh Open champion Mark Selby saw his winning streak end as he lost 5-2 to world number 61 Liu Hongyu. Breaks of 104, 56 and 102 helped China’s 20-year-old Liu to one of his best wins on tour so far.
World Champion Kyren Wilson fired breaks of 100, 93, 65 and 119 as he saw off Hammad Miah 5-2. Stan Moody enjoyed a 5-3 success against Zhang Anda – the second time this season he has beaten world number ten Zhang. Teenager Moody compiled runs of 60, 123, 55, 75 and 68.
Antoni Kowalski made a 133 in a 5-3 victory over Matthew Stevens while Wu Yize beat Jackson Page 5-4 in a battle of two of snooker’s best young talents. Page, a semi-finalist here last year, came from 3-1 down to 4-4 only for Wu to make a 102 in the decider.
Mark Selby was a shadow of the player who won the 2025 Welsh Open. That said, Liu Hongyu is a really good player and he scored heavily today, but he’s not reached his full potential and is no(t yet a) match for an “in form” Mark Selby. Maybe it was just a not so good day in the office for Mark who has had very mixed results in recent years and has spoken openly about his struggles with depression. Jet lag may also have been a factor.
The other match I watched was Wu Yize v Jackson Page. It was a good match to watch between two talented young players. Both of them like to attack but, despite their young age, they have more to their game than just “great potting”. You can’t survive on the tour nowadays if you don’t master all aspects of the sport, including a very solid safety game and a sound tactical nous. When Hendry started playing professionally, he “out-potted’ the opposition, his safety game was almost non-existent. When Ronnie started playing, and for several years, he won a lot just by being aggressive and being an excellent break-builder and potter. The wouldn’t be enough nowadays.
Ronnie is due to play in the 2025 World Grand Prix
Two days ago, WST organised a big press conference in Hong Kong to promote the 2025 World Grand Prix. The event was attended by Judd Trump, the current World Number One, who, like Ronnie, has taken residency in Hong Kong.
Schedule For World Grand Prix Announced At Press Conference
Organised by World Snooker Tour (WST) and F-Sports Promotions Limited, and supported by the Billiard Sports Council of Hong Kong China Limited, the 2025 World Snooker Grand Prix will be held in Hong Kong for the first time, taking place from March 4th to 9th at Kai Tak Arena, Kai Tak Sports Park. The top 32 snooker players of the season will compete for the championship.
Tournament organisers held a pre-event press conference today, attended by world number one Judd Trump and the match schedule was announced. A star studded day one lineup sees the likes of Trump, World Champion Kyren Wilson, Masters champion Shaun Murphy and four-time Crucible king John Higgins in action.
The World Grand Prix is proud of being designated as an “M” Mark event, that helps enhance the image of Hong Kong as an international sports event capital. The “M” Mark is awarded by the Major Sports Events Committee, for signature events in the territory sports calendar.
An excited Trump remarked: “I really do enjoy every occasion I get to compete in Hong Kong. I love everything about Hong Kong and being able to play here for the first time as a Hong Kong resident is definitely a particularly meaningful event in my career. I can’t wait to experience the vibrant atmosphere, with 5,000 fans cheering at the amazing new Kai Tak Arena.”
Ms. Feng Huanhuan, CEO, F-Sports Promotions Limited said, ” We wish to thank the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, the Major Sports Events Committee, and all the supporting organisations for their strong support. The new world-class Kai Tak Arena offers an outstanding venue for hosting this event and will undoubtedly provide audiences with an exceptional viewing experience. With Judd Trump and Ronnie O’Sullivan both gracing the stage in their ‘new home,’ we are proud to promote Hong Kong on the world stage. Our goal is to bring top-tier snooker events that reflect the community’s passion for the sport, while leveraging Hong Kong’s position as the premier hub for Mega Events. We are committed to advancing the development of sports within the community, supporting elite sports, enhancing sports professionalism and developing sport as a thriving industry while promoting the city as a world-renowned centre for major international sports events.“
The World Grand Prix has been held since 2015 and is one of the premier events on the World Snooker Tour. This year marks the first time the tournament will be hosted outside of the UK, with a record breaking venue size and prize money on offer.
The huge arena capacity means 5,000 spectators will be able to experience this premier snooker event live at the brand-new Kai Tak Arena, making it the most attended ranking event on the World Snooker Tour to date. The total prize money has increased from £380,000 last year to £700,000 this year, with the champion’s prize rising from £100,000 to £180,000.
This will be the first ranking tournament held in Hong Kong since 1989. Notably, Trump and defending champion Ronnie O’Sullivan will be competing at home after becoming residents of Hong Kong.
On March 8th and 9th, exhibition matches will take place at 11 am. On Saturday, the men’s exhibition match will feature Hong Kong’s top player Marco Fu going up against Jimmy White. On Sunday, the women’s exhibition match will showcase Hong Kong number one and world number two Ng On Yee competing against world number one Mink Nutcharut. Tickets for the exhibition matches will be distributed for free, with further details to be announced later.
The Hong Kong Billiards Sports Academy, a collaboration between F-Sports Promotions Limited and the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association, located at Kai Tak Mall, will officially open during the tournament.
Public tickets are available through HK Ticketing and Damai, ranging from HK$80 to HK$2,580. There is a special ‘roll-on roll-off’ format for this event, with two consecutive matches in both the afternoon and evening sessions, which means that fans buying a ticket for just one session can watch two matches.
Now, if you follow the link at the end of the article, you will open a page that features a video featuring Ronnie explaining that he took a break bit now feels ready to play in this event and I think he will. Why? Because it’s in Hong Kong, where he’s now a resident and it’s a place he loves. It’s a huge arena and you can be certain that the players will be treated extremely well. How well will Ronnie perform? I don’t really know as he’s facing a daunting task. His first opponent will be Si Jiahui who has beaten him earlier this season. Indeed, Si beat Ronnie by 6-4 in the QFs in Saudi Arabia, in an event where Ronnie certainly wanted to do well. I strongly believe that Ronnie will give it his best in this event, but will it be enough after sitting out so many events? I’m really, really not sure…
The first Disability Snooker World Championship will be held in Thailand next week and it has attracted huge interest
I have been told by one of the participants that some matches will be streamed, likely on Facebook.
Incredible Entry for Inaugural World Disability Snooker Championship!
It has today1 been announced that the first-ever staging of the World Disability Snooker Championship will see an impressive 69 players from 17 countries contest six main titles in Thailand.
Organised by World Disability Billiards and Snooker (WDBS) and the Sports Association for the Disabled of Thailand under the Royal Patronage of His Majesty the King (SPADT), the landmark event will run from 23 February – 2 March 2025 in Nonthaburi, Thailand.
The opening two days (23-24 February) will incorporate classification sessions for players who have not played at a WDBS event before and optional practice for players ahead of the start of the competition.
The first competitive matches are set to be played on 25 February with the start of the group stages, during which there will also be a spectacular opening ceremony staged to open the Championship.
The Groups
The event will see six tournaments staged, with separate competitions held for players from Groups 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.
Due to entry numbers received, Groups 6A, 6B, 7 and 8 will be merged to play a single tournament with 12 players. This is subject to change should entry numbers change prior to the start of the event.
Appropriate points starts will be applied within this group in the interest of fair competition and will be confirmed prior to the start of the event.
Following the conclusion of the group stages, there will also be a Challenge Cup tournament held for players who do not qualify for the knockout stages.
Please note that the draws for the tournament will not be released until 24 February following the completion of new player classifications.
“A fantastic response”
Nigel Mawer QPM, WDBS Chairman said: “We are today delighted to announce such a strong line-up for the first-ever staging of the World Disability Snooker Championship in Thailand.
“To have players from 17 individual countries is a fantastic response and marks a truly international event for disability snooker. It is especially exciting to welcome players from Iceland, Indonesia, Libya, Pakistan and the United States to the Tour for the very first time.
“I look forward to meeting all of the players and officials in Thailand for what promises to be a week to remember.”
The World Disability Snooker Championship runs from 23 February – 2 March 2025 with tournament information to be available via WPBSA SnookerScores.
To be held in Srisaman, Nonthaburi, the landmark event will be organised in conjunction with the Sports Association for the Disabled of Thailand under the Royal Patronage of His Majesty the King (SPADT) and snooker’s world governing body the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association.
The first staging of a World Championship comes 10 years on from the foundation of WDBS and represents the latest major milestone in the continued growth of disability snooker worldwide, following snooker’s inclusion at last year’s World Abilitysport Games and the first-ever European Disability Snooker Championship in October.
Format
The event will run across nine days in total from 23 February – 3 March 2025, with the opening two days to include classification and practice days ahead of the start of the first matches on 25 February.
All players must attend from 25 February to be eligible to compete in the tournament.
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“An Historic Event”
WDBS Chairman Nigel Mawer QPM said: “We are today hugely excited to be able to announce the first staging of the World Disability Snooker Championship in Thailand next year.
“The event will be the biggest ever disability snooker event held and represents a proud moment for all of us who have been associated with WDBS over the past decade.
“Our inclusion at last year’s World Abilitysport Games in Thailand was a week that I will never forget, and it is only fitting that the first ever World Championship will see us return to this amazing country once again.
“I would like to thank the SPADT and the WPBSA for their support of the event, and mostly importantly our players from around the world, without the support of whom the staging of this event would not be possible.
“Our long-term goal remains to secure the return of snooker to the Paralympic Games and this prestigious new event represents another huge step towards achieving that ambition.”
A spokesperson from SPADT said: “We are honoured to host this Championship. We sincerely thank WDBS for trusting Thailand as the host nation.
“We would also like to express our gratitude to the Billiard Sports Association of Thailand for their invaluable support and collaboration, which has been key to ensuring the success of this event.
“Drawing from our experience in organising international sports events for disabled athletes, SPADT is committed to delivering a smooth and memorable tournament. We warmly invite players from across the globe to join us in Thailand for this incredible Championship.
“We hope this competition will be a truly enjoyable and unforgettable experience for everyone involved. May all participants leave with great memories and the famous ‘Thai smile’ that will stay with you forever.”.
O’Sullivan, Brecel, Walden and Totten Withdraw From World Open
Ronnie O’Sullivan has pulled out of next week’s Weide Cup World Open for medical reasons.
O’Sullivan was due to face Stuart Carrington in the opening round this Sunday, but instead he will be replaced by the highest ranked available player on the 2024 Q School Order of Merit, Daniel Womersley.
Luca Brecel and Ricky Walden have also withdrawn for medical reasons. As both of these games were last 64 matches, their respective opponents Tian Pengfei and Ryan Day will receive byes.
Chris Totten has also withdrawn and his opponent Thepchaiya Un-Nooh has received a bye.
The tournament in Yushan, China, runs from February 23rd to March 1st.
I wouldn’t be surprised if there were even more withdrawals actually, we shall see. Regarding Ronnie this is hardly a surprise but he seems committed to play in Hong Kong1 and I expect him to show up for the World Grand Prix. In what kind of form … is anyone’s guess.
Ronnie O’Sullivan has pursued snooker’s impossible dream by trying to perfect a sport built to expose failure
By Desmond Kane
Ronnie O’Sullivan has opted out of another competition with the seven-time world champion citing “medical reasons” for his decision to miss the World Open in Yushan. The snooker GOAT has not played in a ranking event since losing to Barry Hawkins in the first round of the UK Championship in November, but his continued absence from the professional circuit should not be viewed as a major surprise.
There is a thought-provoking quote trotted out in the latest season of HBO black comedy drama series The White Lotus that could easily be used in reference to the dramatised seasonal challenges of the white ball.
Identity is a prison. No one is spared this prison. Rich man, poor man, success or failure. We build the prison, lock ourselves inside, then throw away the key.
When your perceived identity hinges on trying to live up to the great expectations of former glories, it is little wonder that some figures struggle when the masterplan suddenly goes off-piste.
Ronnie O’Sullivan has rightly prioritised his “health and well-being” rather than commit to the considerable stress of competitive play, citing “medical reasons” for his ongoing absence from the sport.
He continues to prefer time spent away from the demands of the professional circuit after withdrawing from the World Open in Yushan – live on Eurosport and discovery+ from February 23 to 1 March – where he was due to face Stuart Carrington on Sunday morning.
O’Sullivan’s frustrations boiled over at the Championship League in Leicester last month when he smashed his cue in a fit of pique and promptly withdrew from the defence of his Masters title at London’s Alexandra Palace.
In hindsight, he probably regrets his tantrum after being left cueless before opting out of his tournament opener with fellow Class of ’92 member John Higgins, but the timeless sensation of being wise after the event is a lot older than the Ally Pally.
These things tend to just crop up in snooker from time to time due to the agonising nature of the game and its natural propensity to torment and titillate. Sometimes all at once. Sometimes on the same shot.
“He’s underhit that, he’s short of the baulk cushion, he’s got a good white, he can make that plant, he’s not opened the pack, he’s played that well...” On and on goes the fractious vocal mood music to the evergreen beat of the white.
Seconds, minutes, hours, days, months and decades of risk and reward, of despair and delight and ultimately success and failure on the fine margins of good fortune, bad luck and ultimately, a decent run of the ball.
In a solitary, single-minded and brutally unforgiving sport, you are hardly alone in your chair.
Beyond the angst of Rocket Ronnie, it can leave every man or woman in waistcoats feeling like they are stuck in a bind.
If your own expectation levels do not fulfil you, the darkened environs of a gloomy green baize can quickly close in upon you, leaving players imprisoned, alone with their thoughts.
‘Stage fright’
It is little wonder that O’Sullivan, the snooker GOAT, a perfectionist and a performer as much as a player, chooses to step back from the game at times.
It is one thing playing exhibition matches for money, quite another to confront the inner demands of achieving technical perfection under the spotlight of legacy matches built to highlight imperfections.
Even more so when you are constantly fighting a losing battle in a sport that is impossible to perfect. No matter how much you try.
At the peak of his powers, the great English golfer Nick Faldo once tried to dominate golf by reinventing his swing in the 1980s. His book was even dubbed In Search of Perfection, but carting off six major titles could never dissuade him from the feeling that he left shots at glory on the fairways of his mind.
Snooker’s impossible dream is seeking perfection in a sport built to expose human frailties and failure.
“I think Ronnie might have a little bit of stage fright because he looks like he’s going to play in The Masters, then pulls out 48 hours before. Same situation here [at the Welsh Open],” said Eurosport pundit Jimmy ‘Whirlwind’ White, a man who could provide the mental manual on snooker’s somewhat cruel ability to destroy all remaining hope with spirit-crushing defeats in six world finals.
“I think he’s always a perfectionist, he’s got a new cue. If he’s going to play, I think he wants to perform.“
“He’s just a god, isn’t he?” said Lisowski. “He carried the game for the last 20 years. He’s one of the most exciting British sportsmen ever.
“Here at the Welsh Open – I think I was like 12 – I cut my arm really bad on a glass door and I had it in a sling. He beat someone 5-0 and then he signed it after. I was buzzing.
“[O’Sullivan] is closely followed by John Higgins. He was my idol when I was growing up for several years.“
A glowing tribute from Jackpot, but it partly explains why O’Sullivan is not in the game as a tribute act.
“It’s a disappointing one for the fans, for me – I love watching him play,” said fellow seven-time Crucible winner Stephen Hendry on his podcast. “It would be a shame if we never see him play again in a tournament.“
The British Open, Northern Ireland Open, Shoot Out, Scottish Open, German Masters and Welsh Open were always likely to make way, with his focus appearing to centre around tournaments in Asia and lucrative exhibition opportunities.
He is due to begin his World Grand Prix title defence against Si Jiahui in Hong Kong next month, but an appearance in his recently adopted home city must be in some doubt with his last appearance at a ranking event coming at the UK Championship in November.
After an impressive 2023/24 campaign saw him win five events and earn over £1.2m in prize money, the world No. 4 has picked up £265,600 in earnings so far, with semi-final appearances at the Shanghai Masters and Xi’an Grand Prix and a quarter-final run at the Saudi Arabia Masters his best performances.
‘Takes your soul’
Maintaining optimum focus is difficult in the modern era. So time to reset is probably part of the deal if you are aspiring to perfection or winning ugly.
O’Sullivan took a year off between his world title victories in 2012 and 2013 while he also went over two years without winning a ranking event before lifting the German Masters with a 9-7 win over Stephen Maguire in 2012.
Any onlooker who wonders why men like O’Sullivan can get fed up with their calling in life, should have piped themselves into a hoary old Welsh Open quarter-final between Mark Selby and John Higgins on Friday lunchtime.
A match that began shortly after 12pm on Friday with both men exchanging smiles ended at 6pm with the pallor draining as slowly from the cheeks as the average shot time ran to 30 seconds.
Selby staggered over the line in a match that could have gone either way on his path to claiming a second Welsh Open title, 17 years after the first of his 24 ranking titles.
“This is a sport that has given me so much over the years, but it begins to take your soul bit by bit,” said Higgins.
“This has been a good sport for me, but as you fall down the rankings, it can begin to take that bit of goodness. It is a brutal sport sometimes.“
Selby, who has battled depression and considered quitting the game at his lowest ebb last year, earned £100,000 for lifting the Ray Reardon Trophy with a 9-6 win over Maguire in the Welsh Open final on Sunday.
It’s nice work if you can get it, but other sports, with much less mental demands than snooker, hand out a lot more for significantly less strain on the system.
Success in snooker is worth celebrating, but it remains as much about how much failure you can stomach on your way to those rare days of bliss in the sunshine.
Here is the list of players who have qualified as shared by WST:
LINE-UP FOR WORLD GRAND PRIX CONFIRMED
The field of 32 players for next month’s World Grand Prix in Hong Kong is now confirmed.
The top 32 in the Johnstone’s Paint One-Year Rankings have now qualified for the World Grand Prix, which will run from March 4-9 and will be staged in Hong Kong for the first time.
The 32 players are:
1. Judd Trump 2. Kyren Wilson 3. Xiao Guodong 4. Mark Selby 5. Mark Williams 6. Neil Robertson 7. Barry Hawkins 8. Ding Junhui 9. Si Jiahui 10. Shaun Murphy 11. Chris Wakelin 12. Wu Yize 13. Mark Allen 14. Lei Peifan 15. John Higgins 16. Jack Lisowski 17. Zhang Anda 18. Ali Carter 19. Elliot Slessor 20. Jimmy Robertson 21. Pang Junxu 22. David Gilbert 23. Stephen Maguire 24. Ronnie O’Sullivan 25. Xu Si 26. Tom Ford 27. Yuan Sijun 28. Stuart Bingham 29. Jackson Page 30. Jak Jones 31. Matthew Selt 32. Gary Wilson
The draw and format will be announced soon.
Hosted by World Snooker Tour (WST) and F-Sports Promotions Limited, and supported by the Billiard Sports Council of Hong Kong China Limited, the 2025 World Grand Prix will be held at Kai Tak Arena, Kai Tak Sports Park.
This year marks the first time the tournament will be hosted outside of the UK, with a record-breaking venue size and prize money on offer. The total prize money has increased from £380,000 last year to £700,000 this year, with the champion’s prize rising from £100,000 to £180,000, both setting new historic highs. This will be the first ranking tournament held in Hong Kong in 35 years.
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I’m reasonably confident that Ronnie will play in this one. He loves it there and is now a Hong Kong resident. He’s the defending Champion. If he withdrew from this one I would be VERY concerned.
WST says that the draw will be published soon but as, for this event the draw goes by strict seeding, it is already set, unless some players opt out. It is available on snooker.org. Ronnie is set to play Si Jiahui in his opening match.
Mark Selby beat Stephen Maguire by 9-6 yesterday evening to become the 2025 Welsh Open Champion. The match was extremely close up to the last interval. At that point Mark Selby pulled away. They say that winning is a habit and Stephen Maguire hasn’t won a title for a long time.
Mark Selby won the BetVictor Welsh Open for the second time, and his 24th ranking title in all, with a 9-6 victory over Stephen Maguire in the final in Llandudno.
From 6-6, Selby pulled away to win the last three frames to land the £100,000 top prize and Ray Reardon Trophy. Reardon and Terry Griffiths, two of the best ever Welsh players, have passed away in recent months and both would have appreciated Selby’s capacity to raise his game at the key moments as he dominated the closing stages, after Maguire had made a fine clearance for 6-6.
This is becoming an excellent season for 41-year-old Selby as he won the Unibet British Open in September and the BetVictor Championship League Invitational earlier this month. It’s the first time since 2020/21 he has won three titles in a single season – and there are opportunities for Selby to add to his haul in the coming months, notably in the spring when he will be among the leading contenders for the World Championship crown.
Having contemplated retirement during a few dark moments at the end of last season, when form and confidence deserted him, Selby is a renewed force this term.
His tally of 24 ranking titles brings him level with Neil Robertson on the all-time list, behind only Ronnie O’Sullivan (41), Stephen Hendry (36), John Higgins (31), Judd Trump (30), Steve Davis (28) and Mark Williams (26).
Selby moves into third place in the Johnstone’s Paint World Rankings, behind Trump and Kyren Wilson, and into fourth spot on the Johnstone’s Paint One-Year list.
Maguire was playing in his first ranking final since 2020 but missed out on a sixth ranking title. Still, it’s a step forward for the 43-year-old Scot and the £45,000 prize crucially lifts him to 23rd on the Johnstone’s Paint One-Year list with the top 32 qualifying for next month’s World Grand Prix in Hong Kong.
After sharing the first session 4-4, Maguire had a chance to take the lead in the opening frame tonight, but missed the green off the last red when he led 55-36, and Selby cleared to edge ahead. Maguire’s run of 55 helped him take frame ten, then four-time World Champion Selby responded with a 67 to lead 6-5. The Englishman looked set to double his advantage until he missed a straight-forward red to a top corner on 60 in frame 12, and Maguire punished him with a fabulous 71 clearance which included a series of crafty shots to nudge reds off cushions.
After the interval, once again Selby edged ahead with a break of 60, then went two frames ahead for the first time since 3-1 with a superb 128 total clearance. In frame 15, Selby led 37-0 when he missed the pink to a centre pocket, but Maguire’s counter ended on 8 when he failed to cut a thin black to a top corner. And when he missed a difficult long red, he handed Selby the table to add a match-winning 30.
”At 6-5 I missed an easy red and the clearance Stephen made was ridiculous,” said Selby, who won his first ranking title at this event in 2008. “That could have been a turning point but I managed to get ahead again in the next frame. I had run of the ball at key moments, that can be the difference at this level. It’s great to see Stephen playing well and back in a final because he is a class act.
”It’s a special feeling. I am in a much better place than I was at the end of last season, when I shouldn’t have even played at the World Championship. I am enjoying it more and I feel I can still get better because there are a few parts of my game I can improve on.”
Maguire said: “I want to say thanks to the crowd, it was unreal to have that much support. When I made the clearance for 6-6 I wanted to carry on, the interval came at the wrong time for me. From 6-6 I hardly had a chance so all credit to Mark.”
Mark Selby and Stephen Maguire will contest the 2025 Welsh Open final today for the Ray Reardon trophy. Here is how they emerged the winners of their respective semi-finals, as reported by WST.
Mark Selby 6-3 Luca Brecel
SELBY FINISHES STRONGLY TO END BRECEL’S RUN
Mark Selby came from 3-2 down to beat Luca Brecel 6-3 and reach the final of the BetVictor Welsh Open, remaining on track for a 24th ranking title.
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Brecel looked the stronger player when he led 3-2, but crucially missed chances in the sixth and seventh frames. That allowed Selby to gain control of the contest, and the four-time World Champion reeled off the last four frames to set up a final against Ali Carter or Stephen Maguire in Llandudno on Sunday.
The 41-year-old from Leicester will be playing in his 36th ranking final, having won 23 of his previous 35. Back in 2008 he beat Ronnie O’Sullivan 9-8 in the Welsh Open final, and has not won the event since. If Selby can lift the Ray Reardon Trophy tomorrow it will be his third piece of silverware this season having won the Unibet British Open in September and the BetVictor Championship League last week. He is sure to climb one place to third in the Johnstone’s Paint World Rankings, and the £100,000 top prize would boost him to fourth on the one-year list.
Defeat is a double blow for Brecel as victory today would have guaranteed him a place in next month’s World Grand Prix, instead he misses out on that event in Hong Kong. His hopes of winning the £150,000 BetVictor Bonus are also over as he needed to win the tournament to top the BetVictor Series rankings, so that windfall goes to Neil Robertson.
In a repeat of the 2023 Crucible final, Selby made a superb start with a 131 total clearance in the opening frame. Brecel was suffering from a headache and took a short break, and when he came back to the table he got his cue arm going with a run of 68 for 1-1. A scrappy 45-minute third frame went Selby’s way, before Brecel made 79 in the fourth then dominated the fifth for 3-2.
Belgium’s Brecel had chances to extend his lead in frame six, but missed a red with the rest when he led 23-2, and Selby punished him with a run of 60. World number seven Brecel had another opportunity in the seventh, but on 45 went for a risky three-ball plant which missed its target, and Selby cleared with 67 for 4-3. The Englishman went on to take the eighth with runs of 33 and 35 before sealing victory in the ninth with a 74.
“I got stronger as it went on, from 3-2 down that was the most composed I have felt all week,” said Selby. “I lost my way a bit after the interval. The match turned on the plant Luca went for at 3-3, it was probably a one in ten shot and perhaps he shouldn’t have gone for it. For me, you have to weigh up the options and percentages, if it’s not in your favour it’s not the right shot. But that’s how Luca plays and he has won tournaments so he’ll feel he doesn’t need to change.
“The difference for me in the last few weeks has been that I have been winning scrappy frames, which I had struggled with previously for a few months. Winning the Championship League gave me confidence. I have lacked consistency at times this season so it has been great this week to put a run together. I’ll enjoy the final tomorrow but I will be trying my hardest and determined to win.”
Brecel, who was playing in his first ranking semi-final of the season, said: “I didn’t play well enough, I missed too many chances. I felt I was playing well enough to win the tournament, but Mark was a very tough opponent today.”
Stephen Maguire 6-4 Ali Carter
MAGUIRE REACHES FIRST FINAL IN FIVE YEARS
Resurgent Stephen Maguire ground out a 6-4 victory over Ali Carter at the BetVictor Welsh Open to reach his first ranking event final since 2020.
World number 29 Maguire had not even appeared in a ranking event quarter-final this season prior to this week, but has shown his renowned fighting spirit in Llandudno to make it through to the conclusion. On Sunday he will battle Mark Selby over 17 frames for the Ray Reardon Trophy and a top prize of £100,000, with Glasgow’s 43-year-old Maguire aiming for a seventh career ranking title and first since the 2020 Tour Championship.
Back in 2004, Maguire won the UK Championship, and subsequently enjoyed a sequence of nine consecutive seasons ranked among the world’s top ten. Since then, highlights have been few and far between, but he recently started work with coach Chris Small for the first time and this week has produced a string of impressive wins.
As an added bonus, his run has boosted Maguire from 41st in the Johnstone’s Paint One-Year Rankings into the top 32 and guaranteed him a place in next month’s World Grand Prix in Hong Kong. Victory over Selby tomorrow would push him up to 13th on that list and to 21st in the official Johnstone’s Paint World Rankings.
The Scot took the opening frame tonight with a break of 84, before Carter won the next two with runs of 118 and 54. World number 15 Carter had a chance to lead 3-1 but in frame four, trailing by 14 points, he missed the final blue to a baulk corner and also sent the cue ball in-off, allowing his opponent to level at 2-2.
Carter regained the lead before a break of 85 got Maguire back to 3-3. In the seventh, Carter was 22 points ahead when he missed frame-ball black to a top corner off the last red, and Maguire punished him by clearing the colours. A run of 57 extended Maguire’s lead to 5-3, then Carter’s 47 helped him pull one back.
Both players had chances in frame ten, and Maguire established a 58-35 advantage before laying a snooker on the last red. From the chance that followed, he slotted the red into a baulk corner from mid-range and added the points he needed to reach a 14th ranking final.
“It was a scrap from start to finish and I’m very happy to come out on the right end,” said Maguire, who beat Stuart Bingham in the final of this event in 2013, two years after he had finished runner-up to John Higgins. “I have done well in the scrappy frames this week because I have not been scoring well, I haven’t even made a century. Working with Chris (Small) has definitely helped me. A few months ago I was losing to players who I didn’t feel I should be beating me. I made the call to Chris and he stripped my game back to basics. Maybe this is the reward.
“It’s nice to be in the World Grand Prix now but for me it’s all about trying to win the title. I’ll only enjoy it tomorrow if I win.”
I didn’t watch the evening match. I was due to travel very early this morning and couldn’t afford to stay up late but I’m very happy with the outcome. I always liked Maguire who is a no-nonsense guy and plays the game properly.
Regarding the afternoon match, Mark played well. It was a shame though that Luca wasn’t 100% fit. At the start of the match he required medical attention as he was suffering from migraine. Migraine isn’t just a headache. It’s very painful, it affects your vision, strong light is nearly unbearable, and it comes with nausea as well. The medication needs a bit of time to deliver full effect, the start of the match was delayed, and, of course, after a while, that effect fades. Luca started well but his level dropped as the match went on. We will never know how much the migraine affected him, if at all. But, as I already wrote, Mark played well, really well.
