February 9th 2025.
Last year, the final of the Welsh Open snooker tournament was one that caught everyone off guard. It was an unexpected match between Gary Wilson and Martin O'Donnell, two players who were not predicted to make it to the end. But that's what makes the Welsh Open so special - it's known for its unpredictability.
The tournament has been a part of the snooker calendar since 1992 and has always been a fan favorite. It started in Newport, then moved to Cardiff, and now it's held in Llandudno. The first ever champion was the legendary Stephen Hendry, but it was his opponent in the final, Darren Morgan, who gave a hint of what was to come in the future. Morgan, a talented player in his own right, only reached two ranking finals in his career and one of them was at the Welsh Open in 1992.
Many players have made it to their first and only ranking final at the Welsh Open, including Andrew Higginson, Joe Swail, and Ben Woollaston. Last year, Martin O'Donnell joined this niche group as he made his way to the final. But it was Jordan Brown who stole the show, becoming a member and the chairman of the club as he lifted the trophy in his first and only visit to a ranking final.
Brown's win was a shock to the snooker world. Ranked 81 in the world, he was not expected to leave Newport with a professional title to his name. But he proved everyone wrong, winning three deciding frame matches in a row and beating top players like Mark Selby and Ronnie O'Sullivan to claim the title. This unexpected result was followed by three more surprise winners in the following years - Joe Perry, Robert Milkins, and Gary Wilson.
Joe Perry, who had been a great player for the past three decades, won the Welsh Open in 2022, seven years after his last ranking title. Robert Milkins, who was given odds of 125/1 by bookmakers, showed that anything is possible as he lifted the trophy in 2023. And last year, Gary Wilson, who had won back-to-back Scottish Open titles, continued the trend of surprise winners at the Welsh Open.
But of course, the tournament has also seen its fair share of big names lifting the trophy. John Higgins has won it a record five times and Ronnie O'Sullivan has won it four times. But even some of the biggest names on the winners' list were not so big at the time of their win. World champions like Ken Doherty, Mark Williams, and Mark Selby all won their first ranking titles at the Welsh Open.
As the 34th edition of the Welsh Open approaches, fans can expect more surprises. With top players like Judd Trump, Ding Junhui, and Xiao Guodong not participating, the field is wide open. And with Ronnie O'Sullivan's participation still uncertain, there is a chance for a new champion to emerge. One of the top contenders this year is Wu Yize, who has already reached two Home Nations finals this season.
But in the Welsh Open, anything can happen. Players like Xu Si and 18-year-old Welshman Liam Davies could also make a name for themselves and continue the trend of unexpected winners. So as we look forward to another exciting edition of the Welsh Open, one thing is for sure - we can always expect the unexpected.
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