- Barry Hawkins defeats Jack Lisowski 9-5 to win his first Welsh Open title.
- Hawkins dominates the afternoon session, winning seven of the first eight frames.
- Lisowski stages a comeback in the evening but cannot overcome Hawkins’ commanding lead.
Barry Hawkins captured his maiden Welsh Open championship by overcoming Jack Lisowski with a 9-5 victory in the final at Venue Cymru in Llandudno. The 46-year-old’s commanding afternoon performance established an insurmountable advantage, setting the foundation for his triumph. Hawkins secured seven frames from the opening eight, demonstrating superior control throughout the competition’s initial stages.
The afternoon session showcased Hawkins’ clinical approach, featuring multiple breaks of significant value. His opening frame yielded a 105-point break, immediately asserting his intent. Although Lisowski leveled the match in the second frame, Hawkins responded decisively by claiming six consecutive frames, each highlighting his precision and consistency at the table.
When play resumed for the evening session, Lisowski demonstrated remarkable resilience by winning three frames in succession. The 34-year-old, competing in his first Welsh Open final, constructed consecutive century breaks to signal a potential comeback. A closely contested frame lasting forty minutes further reduced Hawkins’ advantage to 7-4, breathing life into what appeared a settled contest.
However, Hawkins arrested Lisowski’s momentum through superior positional play in frame twelve. A fortunate plant off a red ball yielded a 68-point break, positioning him one frame away from the title. The critical moment shifted the match’s trajectory decisively back toward the champion-in-waiting.
Lisowski managed one final frame with a 53-point contribution, but Hawkins secured the decisive frame to claim the Ray Reardon trophy. The victory ended a three-year drought in rankings titles for Hawkins, who had previously fallen short in several competitions. Lisowski acknowledged Hawkins’ superiority, praising his opponent’s performance while expressing contentment for a player who had shown him considerable kindness throughout his career.
