The 2025 Welsh Open has reached the business end of proceedings and just four men remain in the quest for Welsh Open glory. With £100,000 on offer to the winner of the tournament we are set for two blockbuster semi finals, here is everything that you need to know.
Mark Selby vs Luca Brecel
With a whole host of top players and seeds falling early in the 2025 Welsh Open, it looked from a long way out that either Mark Selby or Luca Brecel had a great shot of reaching the final and both will have been delighted that they have been able to make the most of the draws that have been handed to them.
Selby started the week as the third favourite for outright victory with only Kyren Wilson and Ronnie O’Sullivan starting ahead of him in the betting. With O’Sullivan pulling out and Wilson crashing out in the second round, many felt that this was Selby’s tournament to lose.
Seeded four, he was professional in his opening match against Haydon Pinhey but he had to survive a nerve-jangling second round match against Elliot Slessor, eventually overcoming the world number 30 in a final frame shootout.
He would be back to his usual self when advancing past Jamie Jones in the last 16 but he would have to use all of his tactical nous and experience to edge out John Higgins in the quarter finals.
In what was always going to be an intriguing battle between two men who have won four World Championships apiece, it was Selby who was able to hold his nerve best edging out his Scottish rival 5-4 and book his place in today's semi final.
He will face off against Luca Brecel and it’s fair to say that Selby will be out for revenge as it was the Belgian who beat him in the final of the 2023 World Championship.
That was the last time that the two have squared off and Selby holds a dominant lead in the pair’s head to head record. He knows how to beat the Belgian and both he and the bookmakers will believe that he can do it again.
Since his 2023 World Championship victory Luca Brecel has had a frustrating time of things. Yes he has reached the latter stages of several tournaments but he has been able to capture any ranking titles and he is in danger of becoming one of snooker’s forgotten men.
Ranked seventh in the world but with that ranking still largely being down to his World Championship win, Brecel needed a big week in Wales and so far that is exactly what he has been able to deliver.
Easy wins against Stuart Carrington, Noppon Saengkham and Junxu Pang saw him into the quarterfinals and he showed that he is ready to win this title when advancing past Jackson Page in yesterday’s quarterfinals.
This week has offered the snooker world a timely reminder of just how talented a player he is and when he can combine solid thinking to go along with his unbelievable shot making there are very few players that can compete with him.
Although he trails the overall head to head with Selby, he will have fond memories that he can beat him again just as he did in the final of the 2023 Worlds.
Selby should advance through to yet another ranking final but if Brecel brings his A game to the table, this semi final could be anyone’s.
Ali Carter vs Stephen Maguire
Two former Welsh Open Champions will prepare to do battle in today's second semi final and although the matchup between Ali Carter and Stephen Maguire might not have the star dust of the encounter between Selby and Brecel, this contest between two veterans of the snooker tour has the the ability to be one of the best matches of the week.
Despite having a career that has seen him scale the heights of being World Champion to then dropping out of the top 16 in the rankings altogether, Ali Carter has enjoyed a tremendous career and the one thing that has always characterised him is how tough he is to beat.
A gritty and determined match player, whoever Carter has to face knows that to advance past the Englishman is certainly no easy feat.
In need of a big week to ensure his automatic qualification for the 2025 World Championships, Carter has been at his dogmatic best so far this week and has produced some fluent professional performances to oust Thor Chuan Leong, Hossein Vafaei and Ryan Day.
Paired off against another gritty competitor in the shape of Joe O’Connor in the quarterfinals, Carter was able to keep his composure when it mattered the most and was able to produce a break of 91 to wrap up the match 5-3 and book his place in today’s semifinal.
He is the bookies favourite to advance today but the head to head doesn’t lie in his favour. Maguire has beaten him in their last five matches including the last time the duo met at the 2024 World Championships.
Carter has struggled against Maguire but he will certainly make life difficult for the Scot today and he will hope to reach his first final at the Welsh Open since his victory back in 2009.
Stephen Maguire tasted victory at this tournament back in 2013 and the Scot has made a welcome return to the semi final stages of a ranking tournament for the first time since making the semi finals at this tournament four years ago.
Maguire has always been regarded as a talented player but with him wearing his heart on his sleeve he has often let his emotions get the better of him and it's fair to say that he hasn’t quite lived up to the level that his talent deserves.
Ranked just inside the top 30, this represents a huge opportunity for Maguire. A win today will see him fly up the rankings and offer a timely reminder of what a special player he can be.
At 35, Andrew Blakely stands as a seasoned expert in both snooker and its betting intricacies. A dedicated player and analyst, he offers keen insights derived from years in the field. Through his writings, Andrew aspires to guide enthusiasts navigating the captivating world of snooker betting.
Andrew Blakely
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