Hull Open Turns Ten in Style: Nine Champions Crowned at Landmark WDBS Anniversary Event

A Decade of Disability Snooker in East Yorkshire

The Wilson Interiors Hull Open marked its tenth anniversary in fitting fashion last weekend, with nine champions crowned across a packed programme of action at the Tradewell Snooker Club in Hull. Since its inaugural staging in 2016, the tournament has grown into one of the most celebrated fixtures on the WDBS (World Disability Billiards and Snooker) calendar, and this year's edition — drawing 77 players from six countries — underlined exactly why. From history-making breaks to comeback victories and long-awaited title defences, the tenth anniversary delivered the lot.

Abubaker Defends Wheelchair Title in Five-Frame Thriller

In the Group 1+2 wheelchair event, Mahomed Abubaker showed the composure of a champion to retain the title he claimed in Hull twelve months ago. The Indian cueist had topped his group with five wins from six, his only defeat coming against reigning Group 1 world champion Gary Swift — who himself made history during the group stage by compiling a break of 59, the highest ever recorded in a WDBS wheelchair competition. That milestone alone would have been enough to make this anniversary event memorable.

Abubaker's route to the final included a 2-0 semi-final victory over Jerry McFarlane, while world number two Tony Southern progressed from the other side of the draw after defeating Swift by the same margin. The final itself was a proper contest. Southern took frames one and three to put himself within touching distance of the title and had a golden opportunity to close it out in frame four — only for Abubaker to dig deep and force a decider on the colours. The 61-year-old ultimately prevailed in the fifth frame to claim the fifth ranking title of his career and his first since lifting this very trophy last year. Gritty, hard-earned, and thoroughly deserved.

Coton Ends Two-Year Wait with Dominant Final Display

If Abubaker's victory was built on resilience, Nigel Coton's triumph in the Group 3 event was a masterclass in final-day focus. The 63-year-old had not won a ranking event since the British Open back in January 2024, and after losing last year's Hull Open final to Ireland's Daniel Kelly, he had unfinished business at the Tradewell. He made no mistake this time around.

Coton's path to the final had its bumps — notably a 3-2 opening-round defeat to Kal Mattu, despite scoring the Group 3 event high break of 36 during that contest. He recovered to win a dramatic 3-2 group stage encounter with fellow Englishman Joe Hardstaff to book his place in the title match. When it mattered most, Coton was a different player entirely. Against Mattu in the best-of-seven final, he took the opening two frames comfortably, then held his nerve through two closely-fought frames to complete a commanding 4-0 victory. It's his first Hull Open title since 2022, and on this evidence, he's back to something close to his best.

Gibson Comes From Behind to Reclaim Home Glory

There was a particularly emotional moment in the Group 4 event as Hull's own Carl Gibson came from 2-0 down to defeat David Church 3-2 and reclaim the title on home soil. Gibson had previously won the Hull Open in 2024 — the same weekend he reached the summit of the Group 4 rankings for the first time — and the 53-year-old was determined to add to that legacy in front of a home crowd.

He swept through the group stage without dropping a match and then produced one of the performances of the tournament by defeating former World Snooker Tour world number eight Dean Reynolds 2-0 in the quarter-finals — a result that will have raised eyebrows well beyond the WDBS circuit. The comeback victory over Church in the final capped a superb weekend for Gibson and gave the anniversary event one of its standout storylines. Coming from two frames down to win in five is never easy, and doing it at your home club, in a milestone tournament, makes it all the more special.

A Landmark Weekend for WDBS Snooker

The tenth anniversary of the Wilson Interiors Hull Open served as a timely reminder of how far disability snooker has come since 2016. Nine champions, 77 competitors, six nations, and a record-breaking break — all at a club in East Yorkshire that has become a genuine home for this corner of the sport. Here's to the next ten years.