Welsh Open snooker final recap: Mark Selby completes win over Stephen Maguire to secure Ray Reardon Trophy

React to this story

If Mark Selby might have been a decent bet to reach the final of the Welsh Open at the outset of the tournament in Llandudno, then conversely Stephen Maguire was one of the outsiders. The pair put on a show during their see-saw battle, but ultimately the class of Selby told as the Englishman took victory to lift the Ray Reardon Trophy at Venue Cymru.

Watch the moment Selby clinches Welsh Open glory in final against Maguire

Video credit: TNT Sports

SELBY SPRINTS PAST MAGUIRE IN WELSH OPEN FINAL

Stephen Maguire pushed him all the way, but Mark Selby was, in the end, too good for his rejuvenated opponent, producing a post-interval burst of three frames in a row to clinch his second Welsh Open title.

He has now won a ranking title in each of the last 12 seasons and a title in each of the last 16.

Shanghai Masters

O'Sullivan wins opener to set up Wilson clash as Selby loses in decider

27/07/2026 at 17:48

Selby threatened to pull away at various times in the afternoon session but Maguire stayed with him, then again at the start of the evening.

And when Selby missed a simple red that turned an apparently inevitable 7-5 into 6-6, going into the interval, a wobble looked possible.

But instead, he responded with his best snooker of the match, a worthy champion growing stronger as the Crucible approaches.

MARK SELBY LIFTS THE RAY REARDON

But not above his head. Well played, Sir.

MARK SPEAKS

He's delighted, agreeing with Stephen and saying the crowd have been great all week. He agrees he played OK the last three frames, but he also had the run of the ball, stuff we'd not notice, he says, and he has nice words for Stephen, saying he's a class act and it's good to see him back at this level. Otherwise, he's recently been winning tight frames which he thinks is one reason he's winning tournaments, and Sophie, his daughter, has been promised a Kindle if he wins, Rob Walker advises him. She could've potted that red he missed, laughs Selbz, before crediting Stephen's brilliant subsequent dish, and that's it.

STEPHEN SPEAKS

He thanks the crowd, saying he doesn't usually get that kind of support. He's enjoyed himself this week and says he Mark played well in the last three frames; there's nothing you can do when he's potting all the balls. He'd have preferred to carry on when the interval came, but otherwise he's happy to be back playing well and qualifying for stuff.

MARK SELBY BEATS STEPHEN MAGUIRE 9-6 TO WIN THE 2025 WELSH OPEN

Stephen did all he could, but Mark is an all time great who knows how to win and on the day he was too good.

SELBY 8-6 MAGUIRE (52-8)

This would be Mark's 24th ranking title and make this year the 12th in a row he's won at least one. He's two balls away.

SELBY 8-6 MAGUIRE (37-8)

Stephen's taken on shots all week so I'm not surprised to see him have a go at one to left corner ... but a miss here is compounded b a double kiss, and that could well be curtains.

SELBY 8-6 MAGUIRE (37-8)

I wonder if the pressure of potting for the match affected Mark; well, now Stephen's potting to stay in, trying a cut-back black ... and leaving it on the lip. But has he got cover? I think he has/.

SELBY 8-6 MAGUIRE (37-7)

Stephen leaves Mark in an invidious situation, not far off the baulk rail, more or less forcing him to take on the pot. It's long to left corner ... and it's there! A pink to middle will feel like a shot for the match ... and he misses it! There are reds on each side cushion, but we've seen Stephen can clear even if the table is tricky.

SELBY 8-6 MAGUIRE (36-0)

Mark has looked great since the interval, but rifling a red into left corner, the pack yields little, so it's a blue clobbered home with side, into the cluster again, brilliant shot ... and somehow he's on nothing, knocking a red safe en route back to baulk.

SELBY 8-6 MAGUIRE (6-0)

All match, Stephen's dangled one to left corner off the break, and Mark, now on a buzz, clips home nicely. But the white won't hold up, so it's in behind the yellow, and when Stephen's escape leaves an opener, Mark has a chance to take command of the frame.

SELBY 8-6 MAGUIRE

A clearance of 128 including a doubled red and a trebled pink takes Mark one away; Stephen needs three straight. Good luck, old mate.

SELBY 7-6 MAGUIRE (62-0)

A blue leves Stephen able only to tie, but he's not getting back to the table in this frame. I wonder if he regrets taking on that red he missed.

SELBY 7-6 MAGUIRE (37-0)

Working his way on to the black, Mark has the frame at his mercy; Stephen is 36 minutes without a pot.

SELBY 7-6 MAGUIRE (29-0)

Mark has a think, plays with screw, and bumps the pack off the black; he's in great shape now, lengthening stride with the line in sight. But this game...

SELBY 7-6 MAGUIRE (4-0)

Poor shot from Stephen and Mark can go at one to the green bag ... it's never there and he's left a cut-back that's for sure taking white into pack. So Stephen, who's attacked all week, goes at it, misses. and he's in big trouble.

SELBY 7-6 MAGUIRE

Mark hits the front again; Stephen daren't lose the next.

SELBY 6-6 MAGUIRE (61-0)

A good red then a blue, and Stephen needs two snookers – but he's not getting back to the table. This has been a very fine run, especially in the circumstances, and Mark is two away.

SELBY 6-6 MAGUIRE (46-0)

Mark plays for a tight pink into that left coner pocket that's treated him so ill ... and cuts down it, just. Soon afterwards, he's back in prime position and he's taking extra care over every shot – as well he might, considering.

SELBY 6-6 MAGUIRE (26-0)

Mistake from Stephen, hitting a stray red on the side cushion after catching a red too thickly; he leaves a starter, but knocks pink safe with black tied up. So Mark gets away and comes up to baulk for the blue – he needs it back on its spot - and might be able to get on to the pink after the next red ... yes he does. This frame is opening out for him; rather, he is opening out this frame.

SELBY 6-6 MAGUIRE (13-0)

Stephen misses thrice then hits; Mark later sinks a red but no more, sending white to near the baulk cushion and beginning another fraught safety exchange

SELBY 6-6 MAGUIRE (4-0)

Stephen must want to win this so much, which makes that clear-up in the last frame all the better. But he's soon sighing, cannoning the blue and leaving a mid-ranger; Selbz drains it well, then trying to develop the black lands on nowt, playing safe off the brown ... sorry, getting behind and close to the brown. Brilliant shot.

WE GO AGAIN

Did Mark spend the interval stewing or centering?

SELBY 6-6 MAGUIRE

The balls were not there for him. Tremendous work from Stephen, and if he wins, that'll be a lot of the reasons why. We got to the interval all square, and this will not get less engrossing.

SELBY 6-5 MAGUIRE (60-53)

... both are excellent! Mark might need to yak betgween frames; this is a colossal dish.

SELBY 6-5 MAGUIRE (60-45)

Stephen has simplified a difficult table really well but can he get at a red just above black cush? Just about, almost coming too far off the pink and snookering himself. So this pot, then colour to yellow are the key shots, and they're coming up...

SELBY 6-5 MAGUIRE (60-25)

Great shot from Stephen to break the balls, and it's only the red on the side that's tricky ... but as I type, he develops it off the black! Brilliant shot, and we've a new favourite for the frame!

SELBY 6-5 MAGUIRE (60-0)

Mark has to go at the cluster again, he gets into the white well enough, and leaves one to middle with another going safe – that'll help him if he misses and Stephen needs to clear up. That eventuality looks unlikely but it's only ever one shot away and though Selbz sinks the next ball, there's soon a red to middle that's not pleasant ... but down it does. This has been a really good contribution, but there it is! The unexpected miss, again to left corner - I can't believe hes not drained that – and there are plenty of points left for Stephen, though there's a red on the side.

SELBY 6-5 MAGUIRE (36-0)

...and a litte ruffle is enough for now. Worrying times for Stephen, but it remains the case that contemporary Selbz is more likely to miss unexpectedly than younger Selbz.

SELBY 6-5 MAGUIRE (15-0)

Safety exchange to start the frame, then Mark gets going to the corner. He adds blue, doing well to avoid the yellow going around the angles for the next ball, works his way on to the black, and this might be the key visit of the match. He's going to break the pack off the black...

SELBY 6-5 MAGUIRE

Stephen leaves a red and concedes. He's doing such a good job of sticking with Mark and he'll feel sick he lost that frame – rightly so. At some point he needs to get in front and he's running out of opportunities. this is, remember, a race to nine not 10, so if Selbz wins the next, ghe'll be hard to catch.

SELBY 5-5 MAGUIRE (67-7)

Ah, I miscalculated: Mark can leaves Stephen needing a snooker without needing the reds on the top rail .... if he pots this black ... and it's there! Then it's a tickle of one of the four and back to baulk

Maguire pulls off deft double to win frame against Selby in Welsh Open final

Video credit: TNT Sports

SELBY 5-5 MAGUIRE (39-7)

Yup, Mark eliminates loose balls, but there are four reds on or just above black cush and another in baulk. This will not be an easy dish, but the lead should be significant even if the frame remains alive at the end of this visit.

SELBY 5-5 MAGUIRE (9-7)

Stephen's having the better of this safety exchange. First, Mark makes a mistake, leaving the white high but leaving nothing, then he makes another, and watches his opponent miss a nasty diagonal mid-ranger to left corner. So Mark returns to the table to attack a chance he didn't earn, and it'd be so him to force home the advantage.

SELBY 5-5 MAGUIRE (0-7)

Again, Mark leaves one to right corner and again, Stephen dispatches it well, but the inevitable cannon doesn't leave him on a colour, so it's back to the bulk cushion; good shot.

SELBY 5-5 MAGUIRE (0-6)

Mistake from Mark and Stephen cues nicely to get going to right corner, but wrong side of the blue, he cna't break the pack to get on the next red, so has to content himself with a safety.

SELBY 5-5 MAGUIRE

It is. Stephen had several chances to win this frame but eventually he makes it safe.

SELBY 5-4 MAGUIRE (26-61)

Carefully moving about the table, Mark tries getting on to the red at the bottom of the cluster and cannot. He tries sending it to middle – a big risk – misses, at that'll surely be the frame.

SELBY 5-4 MAGUIRE (8-55)

Mark goes at a long one to right corner but no dice ; Stephen tries to middle with the same outcome, chuntering after letting slip a decent chance to secure the frame. Instead, Mark gets going to middle, but will need to split what's left of the pack to dish.

SELBY 5-4 MAGUIRE (0-55)

I really like the way Stephen is approaching this session – he's not waiting to be asked. So of course, as I type, he direct a red into the middle jaw, sitting down with a decent lead and no reds loose.

SELBY 5-4 MAGUIRE (0-39)

Stephen removes loose reds – with blacks – and he'll soon dig into the pack, having taken a pink to focus on the frame not any potential maxi.

Selby misses simple black against Maguire in Welsh Open final

Video credit: TNT Sports

SELBY 5-4 MAGUIRE (0-8)

Banger from Stephen to open the frame, a diagonal red to left corner, and he's away. There are loose reds too.

SELBY 5-4 MAGUIRE

Stephen won the tactical battle then jiggered himself missing the green. He'll be feeling ill, but he needs to let go

SELBY 4-4 MAGUIRE (50-55)

Stephen looks glum as Mark sinks the brown, and he's got a decent angle to go in and out of baulk from blue to pink. The next ball disapapears and Stephen mops his brow, accepting the frame has got away. Pink and black to make it official...

SELBY 4-4 MAGUIRE (36-55)

Mark lands behind a red just off the side, and Stephen will surely go at it to middle ... and it's there. But have a look! He misses the green, and the dish is on, no demons out there!

SELBY 4-4 MAGUIRE (36-54)

Mark hits but leaves to the yellow pocket; Stephen opts to play safe rather than attack the pot, the frame going as he wants it to.

SELBY 4-4 MAGUIRE (36-54)

Stephen eyes up a longumto the green bag ... and that's a fantastic pot. He quite rightly refuses a green to middle, instead laying a snooker, white on baulk rail, green and blue blocking the route to the red; Mark misses thrice, the last time hitting the blue, and this frame is slipping away from him.

Selby opens evening session of Welsh Open final with superb red

Video credit: TNT Sports

SELBY 4-4 MAGUIRE (36-40)

Stephen gets the wrong side of the pink – he'd wanted to be low to disturb the two reds I mentioned – so will now go at them off the black ... and he's on neither. So he plays safe and the chase is on! I daresay we may have more frames like this one.

SELBY 4-4 MAGUIRE (36-19)

There are two reds stuck one on top of t'other by the pink spot. The bottom one might go to right corner, but he might have to break them. Meantime, he's forced to take the black, still on the lip of left corner, his cue-power bringing the white back to the blue spot and his next red. Mark will be sitting uncomfortably.

SELBY 4-4 MAGUIRE (36-1)

Whaat?! "The easiest black I've ever seen him miss," intones Uncle Joe when Mark overcuts a black off its spot that looks like it'll drop anyway ... and doesn't. So Stephen gets away nicely to middle, and this is a key visit because you feel he'll need to win this from the front.

SELBY 4-4 MAGUIRE (26-0)

A poor shot from Stephen leaves a tester to middle, Mark bins it like it's nothing, and the balls are pretty nicely spread for him.

SELBY 4-4 MAGUIRE (25-0)

These both have great safety, which is why we're still playing this same phase of the game.

SELBY 4-4 MAGUIRE (25-0)

Deeply frustrated to land on nowt off a black, Mark plays safe, and we wind up exchanging shots off the top cushion.

SELBY 4-4 MAGUIRE (17-0)

Mark gets away with a red to left corner, opens pack off black and he's away.

OUR BOYZ BAIZE

And off we go!

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS

Each time Mark looked to put daylight between the two players, Stephen came back at him, and he desperately needs a first ranking title in five years. This could well go deep.

EVENING ALL

We go again...

MAGUIRE HITS BACK TO LEVEL SELBY IN FINAL

Stephen Maguire produced a fighting display to hit back from 3-1 down to draw level with Mark Selby at 4-4 after the first session of an absorbing Welsh Open final in Llandudno.

Selby won this event in 2008, the first of his 23 ranking title victories, with Maguire victorious in 2013 and it was Selby who looked the likelier player early on at a packed Venue Cymru by edging two close frames to lead 2-0.

A break of 60 by former UK champion Maguire, making his first appearance in a ranking event final in five years, was cancelled out by a 78 from Selby after the Glaswegian broke down among the balls.

But the mid-session break came at a good time for the Scotsman, who redoubled his focus by rolling in efforts of 54 and 63 to restore parity at 3-3 before Selby produced a clinical effort of 116 to claim the penultimate frame of the afternoon.

In keeping with the nip-and-tuck nature of the contest, Selby missed a red to right middle leading 41-0 and was himself punished as Maguire weighed in with a composed 81 to level at 4-4.

Selby holds a 10-8 lead in the career head-to-heads, but that will count for little when they play to a finish from 7pm on Sunday night with the first man to nine frames claiming the Ray Reardon Trophy and a £100,000 first prize.

Welsh Open final

1pm

Mark Selby 4-4 Stephen Maguire

7pm

Mark Selby 4-4 Stephen Maguire

‘Most fluent snooker of the afternoon’ - Selby makes century break in Welsh Open final

Video credit: TNT Sports

SELBY 4-3 MAGUIRE (41-81)

A super 81 from Magure to level this final up at 4-4. Cracking piece of scoring from the Scotsman.

SELBY 4-3 MAGUIRE (41-66)

In goes the final red and blue disappears. Punches in mid-range yellow and just needs the green to level this final up at 4-4. In goes green with rest. Superb from Mags.

SELBY 4-3 MAGUIRE (41-53)

This is excellent from Mags. Fair enough, reds were all and about to be potted, but Maguire is making a fine job of the counter punch. Rapid break-building too.

SELBY 4-3 MAGUIRE (41-8)

Into the pack off the blue, but Selby then misses a red to right centre. Didn't expect that. Break concludes on 41. Maguire returning to the table as Selby makes a bad mistake from the safety shot. Chance for Mags to launch the counter.

SELBY 4-3 MAGUIRE (36-0)

All about the split on pack of reds to win this frame at this visit. Selby picking off the loose ones as we speak.

SELBY 4-3 MAGUIRE (25-0)

Selby manages to plough through the pack of reds, and he is also on the pink too. Which he drains to left centre. Early days, but this is chance to regain the two-frame lead ahead of tonight's evening sesh.

SELBY 4-3 MAGUIRE (4-0)

Selby so close to landing a tricky red to left middle as pocket spits it out, but Maguire then misses a long red by some distance to the green bag. Selby with a fine long red of his own, and he is out on the green too. First big chance then falls to the Leicester man.

SELBY 3-3 MAGUIRE (128-6)

And that is a superb clearance of 115 from Selby to lead Maguire 4-3 in this Welsh Open final.

SELBY 3-3 MAGUIRE (85-6)

73 and counting for Selby in the race to reach nine. Will we have the first century of the final here?

SELBY 3-3 MAGUIRE (63-6)

Heading for the winning line on a break of 51. Looks all over for Mags in this frame as he develops another red to ensure his opponent won't be coming back to the table.

SELBY 3-3 MAGUIRE (54-6)

Selby straight on a red along top cushion, but cue ball is out for black and he runs the white around the angles to return to the reds. Super shot. Chance to claim this penultimate frame of the session here and now.

SELBY 3-3 MAGUIRE (25-6)

Fine margins in this game as Maguire sees a plant on reds stick in a top pocket when it looked certain to drop. That is a tough blow for Mags. What will it cost him here? Selby looking to build a hefty lead as he rolls in the red over pocket off another red and then a pink to green pocket is prodded home.

SELBY 3-3 MAGUIRE (12-0)

Early chance in the seventh frame for Selby to reassert himself, but he only runs in 12 before missing a tough cut on a red using the rest. Wasn't easy cut, but expected him to get it.

SELBY 3-3 MAGUIRE (0-0)

Maguire with a very good break-off shot in the seventh frame. Very fine response from Selby with white back in baulk. Mags with bit between his teeth here.

SELBY 3-2 MAGUIRE (0-91)

Another frame-clinching cameo run of 28, and the job is a good 'un for Maguire Two more frames to come in this opening session.

SELBY 3-2 MAGUIRE (0-69)

Selby sticks up a red and Mags drops it in before adding the insurance policy of blue. This final is heading level again at 3-3. Warming up nicely in freezing Llandudno.

SELBY 3-2 MAGUIRE (0-63)

Closing in then on restoring parity in this final. Maguire getting on board with the programme as another cannon sees him land on a red to left middle. Refuses to push boat out on tricky blue. Just the safety to follow off yellow.

SELBY 3-2 MAGUIRE (0-42)

Bit of good fortune for Maguire to get an angle on a red along top cushion. Brilliant pot on red before he slams into pack off black and a few more reds poke their heads out. Glorious chance then to weigh in with a decent break here. That mid-sesh came at a good time for Mags after the nature of how he lost the fourth frame.

SELBY 3-2 MAGUIRE (0-6)

Lovely long red by Mags to get the party started in the sixth frame. Not a bad nudge on the brown. And chance for Stephen to poke a few home here.

SELBY 3-1 MAGUIRE (24-70)

Selby tries to leave a snooker behind the yellow, but ends up leaving red over left centre pocket. Mark looks over to Stephen and offers the concession which is accepted. A 3-2 lead for the four-time world champion.

SELBY 3-1 MAGUIRE (0-70)

Moves swiftly to 54 with the break and a 70-0 lead. But he misses a dart at a red to the green bag. 67 points left up. But Selby will play on for the snooker he requires. Still a long shot surely for the frame.

SELBY 3-1 MAGUIRE (0-34)

Plenty of reds out in the open for Mags. It is fill your boots time on the old green baize. This final should shortly be heading back to 3-2.

SELBY 3-1 MAGUIRE (0-17)

A second bite at the cherry falls to Mags after Mark makes a mistake with the safety shot. Clips a red near right middle with another red and sticks it up. Chance for Maguire to go to work as brown is despatched.

SELBY 3-1 MAGUIRE (0-16)

Can 'The Maverick' launch a comeback to give himself a fighting chance heading for the winning post this evening? A rapid knock of 16 before a red to yellow bag eludes him. Heading for a bout of safety at top end of table here.

SELBY 2-1 MAGUIRE (108-24)

78 from Selby is the highest break of the final so far, and Maguire has to digest a missed opportunity in that frame during the mid-session interval.

SELBY 2-1 MAGUIRE (69-24)

Not a final of huge breaks so far, but Selby will be delighted to be 3-1 clear. Punishing fully the Maguire mishap.

SELBY 2-1 MAGUIRE (37-24)

Well, Selby handed a golden chance that never looked on. An unhappy Maguire punches table after a poor positional shot, but he compounds the error by sticking up a red to right centre which the Leicester man drops in. Will that be a fatal error in this frame? Looks like it.

SELBY 2-1 MAGUIRE (30-16)

Maguire isn't holding back with these attempts at long pots. Going for his shots. Doesn't leave Selby an easy red after attempting one from distance and he misses it. Easy starter then for the Glaswegian. Into the pack off the black and reds open very nicely for the former UK champ.

SELBY 2-1 MAGUIRE (30-0)

Selby looking to make some progress. These could easily have been all for Mags if that red hadn't come back out. But he can't land on a red off the black via split. Just the safety shot to follow. Relief for Maguire.

SELBY 2-1 MAGUIRE (6-0)

Mags so close to sinking a brilliant long red straight off the bat, but it somehow doesn't drop. He thought it was in. But red is back out for Mark to roll in with the extended rest.

SELBY 2-0 MAGUIRE (23-69)

In goes another terrific long red from Maguire, who is off the mark in this final. Back to 2-1 behind. One more frame before the mid-session interval.

SELBY 2-0 MAGUIRE (23-68)

Maguire ramming in a superb long red as he looks to finalise this frame. Leaves Selby needing snookers here, but his opponent will play on for the snookers. 45 ahead with 35 remaining. Should be a first frame to the Scot, but can't take anything for granted with Selby.

SELBY 2-0 MAGUIRE (8-60)

But Selby misses a pink off spot on eight. That will frustrate him. Still life in this third frame.

SELBY 2-0 MAGUIRE (1-60)

Table really favours Stephen too with green and several reds out of commission. Maguire passing the half-century mark with the break as a tricky red is downed. But he gets a double kick off a long red down side rail. Not sure that was the right red to attempt with another red out in open. Is Selby going to launch the counter punch here?

SELBY 2-0 MAGUIRE (0-32)

This will makes Mags feel a lot better about his lot. Lovely shot off black to disturb cluster of four reds. And every chance now enjoy a one-visit hit to win this frame.

SELBY 2-0 MAGUIRE (0-4)

Not really sure Maguire wants to get involved in long bouts of safety play with Selby. Sees a red to right middle as a prospect, and in it goes. Followed by yellow. Chance then to get hand on table to score a few.

SELBY 1-0 MAGUIRE (58-30)

Maguire then sees the white ball go in off the green. Just what you don't need. He has seen enough. It is a 2-0 lead for Selby. Two tight frames, both have gone to the four-time world champion.

SELBY 1-0 MAGUIRE (54-30)

Selby taking out the final red before easing himself 21 points clear with 25 left up. Selby opting to play safe rather than go for a double of green. But he slots a superb green seconds later to leave Maguire needing a snooker in this frame.

SELBY 1-0 MAGUIRE (42-30)

Maguire forced to escape from snooker on final red before Selby leaves him in another snooker behind brown and in middle of table. Both players then escaping well from snookers.

SELBY 1-0 MAGUIRE (41-30)

This has been a fighting break so far to hit 30, but hardest bit is still to come with three reds remaining above board, but all near right rail. Misses the green, and leaves Selby an easy starter. Can't really afford to miss the green. Selby then out of position after slotting blue to right centre. Just safety to follow.

SELBY 1-0 MAGUIRE (35-6)

Selby making his way to 34. Far from an easy table if Maguire gets an opportunity. Four reds on sides cushion. Selby then misses a black off spot. Didn't expect that.

SELBY 1-0 MAGUIRE (4-0)

Another blunder on the safety side by Maguire, but this time he sticks up an easy starter for the four-time world champion.

SELBY 1-0 MAGUIRE (1-0)

Maguire tries to pot himself out of a spot of trouble, but nothing doing before Selby misses red by some distance to left centre. Didn't really threaten the pocket. Maguire then blunders with a safety shot. But doesn't leave Selby on an easy red. Great pot on red to left middle by Mark. But just safety to follow.

SELBY 0-0 MAGUIRE (63-21)

Selby drops in the red he requires to seal the deal for a 1-0 lead. Both players with half-chances. But it is Selby who sees it out.

SELBY 0-0 MAGUIRE (62-7)

Selby looks like he is going to see out this frame at his second scoring visit. In goes pink to right middle to leave Maguire needing a snooker. A plant on reds somehow doesn't stop, and that will see Maguire return to table chasing two snookers. Tall order against a figure like Selby.

SELBY 0-0 MAGUIRE (39-7)

Another chance presents itself to Mark as he carts home a long red with some aplomb. £100,000 for the winner, £45,000 for runner-up today.

SELBY 0-0 MAGUIRE (19-7)

Bit of an early blunder by Maguire as he tries to pinch a bit too much of the pocket and ends up missing the black. That will disappoint him. The power passes to Selby as he makes his first visit to the table. But he misses a tough red across the table. Gets lucky by not leaving anything for his opponent.

SELBY 0-0 MAGUIRE (0-6)

Off we go with the first frame of a possible 17. Who is going to get their hands on the Ray Reardon Trophy? Early chance for Maguire to club home a mid-range red. In goes the red, and he is out on the blue too. Very nice from Stephen as he rolls that in with ease.

SELBY 0-0 MAGUIRE (0-0)

Boys are out on the baize then for the first of eight frames this afternoon. A minute's applause for pioneering Welsh snooker icons and former world champions Ray Reardon and Terry Griffiths, who sadly died in 2024.

SELBY AHEAD ON THE CAREER HEAD-TO-HEADS

Mark Selby with the slight edge on Maguire, but not by much. He is 10-8 clear of the former UK champion with both men winning this tournament once, Selby in 2008 and Maguire in 2013. So history suggests this could be a close one today.

'Can I have 15 minutes please?' - Selby delights crowd with headache gag

Video credit: TNT Sports

WILL THE 'FURNITURE' BE THROWN ABOUT TODAY?

2013 Welsh Open champion Stephen Maguire has got one eye on the decorum of his opponent during these matches. Read more:

Snooker

‘Is that how you act?’ - Maguire shocked by Carter’s antics in heated semi

16/02/2025 at 09:22

'The rest was getting thrown about!' - Maguire calls out Carter's behaviour in semi-final win

Video credit: TNT Sports

LISOWSKI: O'SULLIVAN IS A SNOOKER GOD

Ronnie O'Sullivan has been dubbed "a god" and "one of the most exciting British sportsmen ever" by Jack Lisowski. A select crop of current snooker professionals were asked to name their childhood idols in the sport, and Lisowski was the only one to reveal 'The Rocket' was his hero growing up. John Higgins, Steve Davis, Jimmy White and Stephen Hendry were also mentioned by the group of stars. Read more here:

BetVictor Welsh Open

O'Sullivan carried snooker for last 20 years, says Lisowski - 'He's just a god'

15/02/2025 at 21:32

O'Sullivan, Davis, Hendry, White? Snooker stars name their childhood heroes

Video credit: TNT Sports

Snooker

'An absolute star' - Hendry ranks his all-time Crucible greats

23/06/2026 at 11:53

Halo World Championship

Selby: ‘Horrific’ conditions ‘the worst I have experienced’ at Crucible

28/04/2026 at 10:33