February 17, 2024
Updated 5 hours ago
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Welsh Open 2024: Gary Wilson completes 147 break after missing first chance
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Venue: Venue Cymru, Llandudno Dates: 12-18 February |
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Coverage: Live on ` TV, ` iPlayer, ` Red Button and watch online. |
Gary Wilson will face compatriot Martin O'Donnell in the Welsh Open final on Sunday after beating five-time winner John Higgins 6-4.
Wilson's tally included a 147 and breaks of 104, 82 and 89 as he secured a narrow win at Llandudno.
The Englishman led 5-1 before Higgins reeled off three frames in a row – but Wilson advanced with a break of 73.
In the first semi-final, O'Donnell achieved a magnificent break of 126 in the decisive frame against Elliot Slessor.
Higgins was seeking his sixth Welsh Open title but Wilson got off to a bright start, opening with a century break of 104 before taking a 2-0 lead with 147.
Scottish Open winner Wilson took complete control at 4-0 before Higgins regained a frame with a break of 93.
Wilson responded to get within a frame of the final, but Higgins hit breaks of 69, 66 and 78 as he fought hard to bring the score back to 5-4.
But Wilson kept his cool with a break of 73 to secure victory on a night where he achieved the 199th maximum break in snooker history.
Wilson secured his fifth career maximum as he became the 13th player to reach the milestone.
“I’m thrilled,” Wilson said. “I didn’t do much wrong and played very well at times.”
“The 147 was at the start of the game, I didn’t even think about it at the start, I just wanted to build a lead.”
“It probably wasn't until I was 40 or 50 that I thought, 'The balls are here,' and you can hear the crowd cheering you on.”
“I should have had one in the frame beforehand, I had a chance.”
Higgins admitted he had no answer to Wilson's outstanding early form.
“He was lethal in the first three and a half frames… unbelievable, two centuries in a row,” Higgins said.
“Gary played great, I give him credit… there was nothing I could do.”
O'Donnell showed wonderful composure and won the first semi-final in the deciding frame.
After a tense safety battle, O'Donnell took his chance to make the first century break of the game, winning 6-5 to reach his first ranking final.
O'Donnell had built a 5-3 lead over his fellow Englishman, but Slessor managed breaks of 95 and 65 to level.
“I was just enjoying it and thinking about all the hours you spent at the club, everything you did,” O’Donnell said.
“I thought to myself: 'Come on, let's see what you're made of, let's see if you're up to the task'.”
“That’s all I really focused on. Oddly enough, it was probably the most calm feeling I've ever had in a game with five players.”
World number 76 O'Donnell stunned world champion Luca Brecel in the quarter-finals before beating our Slessor, while Wilson won the 2022 and 2023 Scottish Open.
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