Welsh Open final LIVE – O’Donnell eyes first title as he faces Scottish Open holder Wilson

Gary Wilson – Martin O’Donnell – 1re session

O’Donnell 0-1 Wilson (24-16)

This table seems to be pulling to the right a bit today. Wilson binning a tricky red with rest before rolling in a lovely blue to right centre. So he looks to be back in business then in this second frame. Black out of commission. So will have to do his work off the pink.

O’Donnell 0-1 Wilson (16-11)

Only a break of 15 from Martin on that occasion as another red to a top pocket eludes him. Yet to fully settle in this final, but is managing to come up with some fine safety shots.

O’Donnell 0-1 Wilson (8-11)

Well, Martin yet to settle in this final, but is handed a glorious chance to get hand on table when Wilson misses blue using rest to right centre. That is a serious let-off for O’Donnell, who should make a few at this visit.

O’Donnell 0-1 Wilson (1-4)

Bit of a cautious start to this second frame of the afternoon. O’Donnell with attempt on a mid-range red after safety error by Wilson, but hasn’t left anything. Wilson then misses a red, but poor effort by his opponent to gain position. And that will be all he manages from this visit.

O’Donnell 0-0 Wilson (1-98)

Green doesn’t drop in green with the rest for Gary, but wasn’t a gimme. Break of 98 gets the job done every day of the week. A 1-0 lead for the man from Tyneside. Gary cooking with gas right from the outset.

O’Donnell 0-0 Wilson (1-72)

Well, this has been an impeccable start from Wilson. Picking up from where he left off against Higgins. Racing through these balls will little thought. All instinct. What a start to this final. The MOD being punished for missing a tricky red.

O’Donnell 0-0 Wilson (1-21)

First real chance of the day falls to Wilson after O’Donnell attempts a tricky cutback on a red only to see it stick in the jaws. So close to that one, but he has left Gary an easy starter to get his cue arm working here.

O’Donnell 0-0 Wilson (1-0)

Wilson goes for a tricky red down length of table to green bag. Doesn’t drop in jaws, and easy opener as he drops in red, but just the safety to follow.

O’Donnell 0-0 Wilson (0-0)

So here we go then with the Welsh Open final. Eight frames to be played this afternoon, a possible nine frames tonight. Both players given a huge reception by the fans inside Venue Cymru in Llandudno. Wilson to get the action off and running. 2-2 on the career head-to-heads.

A spot of black magic from the Minister

A stunning black helped the ‘Minister of Defence’ Martin O’Donnell complete a 5-3 win over world champion Luca Brecel in the last eight. A few more of these today will do just nicely from the Minister, who can attack as well as he defends.

Watch the dramatic finish to O’Donnell’s clash with Brecel at the Welsh Open

Wilson holds nerve to see off Higgins

John Higgins fought back from 4-0 and 5-1 behind to close to 5-4 in their semi-final, but Gary Wilson staggered over the line to stay on track for a rare Scottish Open and Welsh Open title double in the same season. Here is how he closed it out quite majestically before a sell-out crowd last night.

‘It’s been a rollercoaster ride’ – Wilson seals Welsh Open final spot with break of 73

Semi-final recap

Gary Wilson produced a sizzling passage of play, which included a 147 break, to beat five-time winner John Higgins 6-4 in the semi-finals of the Welsh Open.

Higgins went into the weekend as the hot favourite to win his first ranking title since 2021, but never recovered from a scoring blitz from the Scottish Open champion.

Earlier, Martin O’Donnell booked his place in a first ranking final by making a century in the deciding frame for a 6-5 win over Elliot Slessor.

With both players surprising participants in the last four relative to their rankings, and with plenty at stake, nerves were to the fore throughout.

It was O’Donnell who made the fewer mistakes – and held his nerve superbly in the face of a late rally from Slessor – as he set up a meeting with either Higgins at Venue Cymru in Llandudno.

Sunday Schedule

Welsh Open Final – Martin O’Donnell v Gary Wilson

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