Wilson beats O'Donnell in final to win Welsh Open

Gary Wilson adds the Welsh Open to the two Scottish Open titles he won in 2022 and 2023

Gary Wilson has won the Welsh Open by beating Martin O’Donnell 9-4 in the final at Venue Cymru, Llandudno.

A break of 98 in the first frame set the tone for the match, as Wilson raced into a 4-0 lead in north Wales.

Both players won two frames in the middle session, giving Wilson a healthy 6-2 lead going into Sunday evening.

And the 38-year-old Englishman picked up where he left off, winning three of the next five frames to claim his first ever Welsh Open title.

“What a mad few months I’ve had,” said Wilson after the win.

“Having won the Scottish Open I feel like I belong in these situations, but I never thought another one would come so soon.

“It was a scrappy game, not the best standard, but you have to battle on because you never know what is around the corner.

“I lost my cue action in the last few frames. You go through ups and downs all the time – I’m just happy to get over the line and get another tournament.

“Congratulations to Martin, he’s had a great tournament and battled hard today.”

Wilson went into Sunday’s final in fine form, having completed a fifth 147 break of his career on the way to beating John Higgins in the semi-finals.

Confidence was also high for world number 76 O’Donnell, who had beaten world champion Luca Brecel in the quarter-finals.

But England’s O’Donnell could do nothing to stop Wilson, who had breaks of more than 50 in each of the first three frames of the final.

Wilson, who never trailed in the final, topped 100 points in the third and fourth frames, to finish the opening session 4-0 up.

O’Donnell improved in the afternoon, and a break of 92 ensured he won his second frame of the game, but he still trailed 6-2 before the final session.

The lead was down to three when O’Donnell came out on top of a 41-minute ninth frame, but an early missed red in the 10th handed the initiative back to Wilson.

And Wilson took full advantage with a century break which restored his four-frame lead.

A break of 85 from O’Donnell once again reduced the deficit to three frames before Wilson moved one frame from the title with an 8-4 lead.

And after a short break in play, Wilson returned to the table to secure the Welsh Open title in the 13th and final frame of the match.

“Gary is class, he’s won a few ranking events now, but it’s a bit disappointing,” said O’Donnell.

“I’ve played some good snooker this week, some of my best, so to play like that and not make it difficult for him is disappointing.

“He had plenty in the tank even if I came back, so congratulations to Gary.”