Welsh Open 2026 LIVE - John Higgins wins decider against Bulcsu Revesz; Kyren Wilson beaten 4-1 by Zhou Yuelong; Zhao Xintong holds off Stan Moody

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Hello and welcome to TNT Sports' live coverage of the Welsh Open on Wednesday, February 25, as world champion Zhao Xintong takes on prodigious youngster Stan Moody. Mark Williams and Neil Robertson secured their spots in the last 16 with victories earlier today. Kyren Wilson and John Higgins will take to the baize in the evening session as they look to progress in Llandudno.

John Higgins

Image credit: Getty Images

WEDNESDAY'S RESULTS

Dylan Emery 1-4 David Grace

Barry Hawkins 4-2 Pang Junxu

BetVictor Welsh Open

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Jun Jiang 4-0 Yuan Sijun

Robbie Williams 4-3 Stephen Maguire

Chag Bingyu 3-4 Jackson Page

Joe O'Connor 2-4 Wu Yize

Hossein Vafaei 1-4 Neil Robertson

Zhang Anda 4-2 Liam Pullen

Gary Wilson 1-4 Sam Craigie

David Gilbert 2-4 Stuart Bingham

Stan Moody 2-4 Zhao Xintong

Kyren Wilson 1-4 Zhou Yuelong

Bulcsu Revesz 3-4 John Higgins

HIGGINS 4-3 REVESZ

Higgins pots the last red and goes on to move the brown off the cushion and clear up down to the pink. A fine end to a fine match. Revesz can certainly take a lot out of his performance today.

HIGGINS 3-3 REVESZ (57-10)

A reverse double from Higgins ensures the frame will be his. He adds a pink but Revesz plays on, despite needing three snookers to tie. Does he not know the time?

HIGGINS 3-3 REVESZ (50*-10)

One hell of a shot from Higgins. Hard to think there will be a better shot in the championship. And it was in a decider. Bridging over the brown ball, he comes off the cushion to hit a red near the bottom right, at an angle that the cue ball goes on to hit the other red into the pocket.

HIGGINS 3-3 REVESZ (49-10)

A blue just sinks in for Higgins and then he plays a good safety, from which Revesz fails on his first attempt to make a thin contact on the reds the length of the table away from him. It looks like a slow death to the Hungarian's chances.

HIGGINS 3-3 REVESZ (40*-10)

Higgins goes in off, leaving Revesz with a shot from the D he would have expected to pot into the bottom-right, but it just stayed out and Higgins pots a fine red. But the other three are now on the bottom cushion.

HIGGINS 3-3 REVESZ (39-6)

It has been a slog to get to this stage, but the break ends after Higgins notched a red into the bottom right with a thin cut, opening up two more in the process. After deliberating, he neglects to take on a tricky long blue and plays safe - knocking the brown onto the side cushion as well.

HIGGINS 3-3 REVESZ (10*-6)

Another good long pot from Higgins gives himself another chance to put a sizable dent in the frame. The pink and black being out of commission for now hinders him at present.

HIGGINS 3-3 REVESZ (5-6)

A good long red from Higgins and, after not quite getting position from the green, he pots the red with the rest but leaves the cue ball nestling on the left cushion. We are as they were to begin almost.

HIGGINS 3-3 REVESZ (0-6)

Revesz is first on the board after Higgins misses a red and leaves him in. But he can only put six points up, before playing safe.

HIGGINS 3-3 REVESZ

He misses a black but after he had crossed the finish line, so the Hungarian youngster has forced the great Scot into a decider.

HIGGINS 3-2 REVESZ (0-44*)

It has been a very composed break from Revesz, especially in the circumstance he faces himself in. He left himself slightly awkward cut of the black but he plays it dead weight and stays in position for the next red.

HIGGINS 3-2 REVESZ (0-1*)

A great long red from Revesz gives him exactly the start he needs in the frame.

HIGGINS 3-2 REVESZ

The break ends at 83, but Higgins is now one frame away from victory.

HIGGINS 2-2 REVESZ (70*-0)

Some textbook potting reds and screwing back in perfect position to continue his break. The frame is now his.

HIGGINS 2-2 REVESZ (47*-0)

Higgins with a plant gets himself going again and he could well secure the frame in this visit.

HIGGINS 2-2 REVESZ (40-0)

Revesz misses a straight pot by an absolute mile and, worse, the red goes on into the same pocket he was aiming at. Higgins pots a red and puts Revesz in a snooker, which he misses - hitting the black. A bad couple of minutes.

HIGGINS 2-2 REVESZ (29-0)

Higgins could only nestle into the side of the pack off the black and is now playing safe to baulk.

HIGGINS 2-2 REVESZ (5*-0)

Higgins with a good cueing down the left-hand side of the table and cutting a red into the bottom-right corner pocket. The ensuing brown has got him back around the reds.

HIGGINS 2-2 REVESZ

A break of 75 in the end for Higgins, the best of the match so far.

HIGGINS 1-2 REVESZ (55*-40)

On the colours now, like Revesz in the last frame, Higgins needs down to the blue to seal the frame.

HIGGINS 1-2 REVESZ (44*-40)

A typical Higgins break, dealing with the reds spread around than the table and set to move onto the colours.

HIGGINS 1-2 REVESZ (9*-40)

Revesz misses an awfully difficult red, hitting it from near the baulk colours to the bottom-left pocket, but misses and leaves Higgins with a red into the right middle which he puts away.

HIGGINS 1-2 REVESZ (8-40)

Revesz gets the wrong side of the blue, but a bit of a surprise to see him play a safety rather than try and go up and down the table to extend the break.

HIGGINS 1-2 REVESZ (8-26*)

The Hungarian is foiled - by a ladybird. He picks it off the baize and then doesn't know what to do with it. The referee directs him towards an area near the camera operator - and pleads with him to spare the insect.

HIGGINS 1-2 REVESZ (8-12*)

Higgins goes in off and Revesz has another chance to build a break.

HIGGINS 1-2 REVESZ (8-7)

Higgins can't get good position off the black and then misses a long red into the green pocket. He is fortunate to leave the table safe.

HIGGINS 1-2 REVESZ (1*-7)

The Hungarian misses the most regulation of regulation blacks and has let Higgins in.

HIGGINS 1-2 REVESZ (0-6*)

Revesz with a good long pot to get himself going. He then flexes his arms with the cue. A kind of 'Hulking up' - I like it.

HIGGINS 1-2 REVESZ

Revesz didn't leave himself in a great position on the blue but slotted it beautifully into the bottom-left pocket. He now has the lead.

HIGGINS 1-1 REVESZ (40-47*)

He has stylishly polished off the reds and now is on the colours. He needs down to the blue.

HIGGINS 1-1 REVESZ (40-17*)

A nice red potted up into the left middle and Revesz suddenly has a very nice looking table to work with.

HIGGINS 1-1 REVESZ (40-9)

Very rare to see Higgins' cue ball run loose. He has to play safe, with the spider, on the black and leaves the white on the bottom cushion.

HIGGINS 1-1 REVESZ (27*-9)

Revesz didn't see a plant. Higgins definitely did and comes back up the table to notch a yellow which takes him back down to the business end.

HIGGINS 1-1 REVESZ (24-9)

Higgins misses a long red and Revesz then pots one himself. It looked like he might have got a fortunate deflection to get on the pink, but he has to play safe to the baulk end.

HIGGINS 1-1 REVESZ (24-8)

Higgins misses a red to the right middle, with the ball hitting both jaws, but he leaves the table safe.

HIGGINS 1-1 REVESZ (6*-8)

After two good pots. hemisses an awful red from near the pink spot into the bottom right. Higgins has the chance to make him pay now.

HIGGINS 1-1 REVESZ (0-8*)

We join this game with the third frame just starting. A good red to middle starts the Hungarian off.

ZHOU BEATS WILSON 4-1

Zhou pots a red, then misses a black but Wilson indicates that is more than enough. Zhou now faces Sam Craigie in the next round.

WILSON 1-3 ZHOU (8-72)

Sometimes you don't get the luck. Wilson plays a fine black and comes around the table cannonining into a red but just going the wrong side of it. He gives the balls a sarcastic thumbs up!

WILSON 1-3 ZHOU (0-72)

It's not quite over. Zhou runs out of position and misses an attempted thick cut. Wilson needs two snookers.

WILSON 1-3 ZHOU (0-58*)

With the minimum of fuss, Zhou is on the brink of taking the frame and match.

WILSON 1-3 ZHOU (0-29*)

As expected so far. Zhou racking up the points, while staying around the black as if the cue ball is tied to it.

WILSON 1-3 ZHOU (0-1*)

Wilson smiles as Zhou leaves a red over the right middle, but covers it with the baulk colours. He then goes for a risky red and gifts Zhou an opening - on an inviting looking table.

WILSON 1-3 ZHOU

The break ends on 75 as he misses a red into the right middle, but most importantly he is on the board and in the game.

WILSON 0-3 ZHOU (62*-0)

No applause from the crowd but Joe Johnson in our commentary box appreciated it. He went up for the yellow and came down just south of the red, giving him the opportunity to pot it and get back up to the blue. He is on the brink now.

WILSON 0-3 ZHOU (51*-0)

Wilson has notched a half century and is in no mood to stop there. Next up, making sure the frame is secure.

WILSON 0-3 ZHOU (30*-0)

He has opened the reds up and the table looks very inviting for Wilson now.

WILSON 0-3 ZHOU (8*-0)

Difficult cueing with the spider but Wilson manages to pot the first red and added to it potting a black with a difficult cut.

WILSON 0-3 ZHOU

The break ends at 93, with a green glued to the side cushion denying him. He is a frame away from the last 16.

WILSON 0-2 ZHOU (2-74*)

Zhou is now a frame away from victory and is looking to notch a century. Wilson will be hoping for some luck. He hasn't had any so far.

WILSON 0-2 ZHOU (2-34*)

He had a bit of luck to start, but Zhou is making it pay with superb control of the cue ball around the black spot.

WILSON 0-2 ZHOU (2-5*)

Wilson shakes his head as Zhou pots a red with a really thin contact and leaves himself on the brown thanks to an inadvertent cannon.

'What a thin cut that was' - Wilson smiles after sensational Yuelong shot

Video credit: TNT Sports

WILSON 0-2 ZHOU (2-0)

Another pot from Wilson, but again no position, so he has to play safe.

WILSON 0-2 ZHOU (1-0)

Kyren is on the board! And it was a fine red, but the 'to nothing' part of the equation was too good and he had to play safe, sending the yellow into the pack, keeping the cue ball in baulk.

WILSON 0-2 ZHOU

A 40 and a 46 from Zhou. Wilson yet to get on the board.

WILSON 0-1 ZHOU (0-72)

Wilson looks unimpressed with his arms folded as the second frame goes by. He hasn't done too much wrong really.

WILSON 0-1 ZHOU (0-52*)

Zhou makes a break of 40 and, after losing position, soon gets the chance to start again - and he is not far away from going two-up.

WILSON 0-1 ZHOU (0-26*)

A fine positional shot on the blue sees the cue ball go around the angles before setting himself up perfectly on the next red.

WILSON 0-1 ZHOU (0-4*)

Clean as a whistle! Zhou was not left a gimme by any means but he cut a long pot in and got position on the green.

WILSON 0-1 ZHOU

Breaks of 47 and 50 give Zhou the early advantage.

WILSON 0-0 ZHOU (0-78*)

Wilson leaves a ball over the pocket and Zhou puts it away to ensure there is no fight back in the frame.

WILSON 0-0 ZHOU (0-66)

Zhou back at the table and gets to the brink of victory, before getting a little close to the frame-ball red and missing it into the yellow pocket. He leaves the table safe though.

WILSON 0-0 ZHOU (0-53)

A very strange miss of a pink. He played it with a lot of left hand side but looked as shocked as anyone that it stayed out.

WILSON 0-0 ZHOU (0-31*)

Zhou opens up the pack and though the black is out of commission, crowded by reds, there are ample free and the pink can go into any pocket.

WILSON 0-0 ZHOU (0-6*)

Wilson gets out of a snooker but leaves a red on, which Zhou pots, and the Chinese player has a chance to make his first contribution a good one.

WILSON 0-0 ZHOU (0-0)

We are underway. The winner will face Sam Craigie who has just beaten Gary Wilson.

ELSEWHERE ON THE TABLES...

Zhang Anda 2-2 Liam Pullen
Gary Wilson 1-4 Sam Craigie
David Gilbert 2-2 Stuart Bingham

WILSON TAKES ON ZHOU NEXT

The final matches to start in Round 2 are Kyren Wilson-Zhou Yuelong and Bulcsu Revesz-John Higgins. We will keep tabs on both.

ZHAO BEATS MOODY 4-2!

The break ends at 122 as Zhao needed a rest but instead opted to try potting the pink with one hand. He missed, but goes through to the last 16.

**ZHAO 3-2 MOODY (103*-0)**

The century is secured. He is a man all players in draw will be hoping gets beaten before he plays them.

**ZHAO 3-2 MOODY (68*-0)**

Unfortunately this will be where Moody's run in the tournament ends. Can Zhao seal it with a century?

**ZHAO 3-2 MOODY (25*-0)**

Zhao had a bit of luck pushing a red towards the bottom left pocket and blocking it with the green ball. Moody could not prevent leaving him on with a pot - and the world champ looks in the kid of groove he was earlier in the match.

ZHAO 3-2 MOODY

We have a game on our hands! And at least Moody can come out of the game with confidence whatever happens now.

**ZHAO 3-1 MOODY (9-63*)**

Great stuff from Moody this. No one can have thought he had a chance at 3-0, but now it will be 3-2.

**ZHAO 3-1 MOODY (9-35*)**

Another delicate long pot sets him up with another chance.

ZHAO 3-1 MOODY (9-34)

No luck for Zhao there, two good reds and a black with a spider, but he gets no position.

**ZHAO 3-1 MOODY (1*-34)**

That might be the difference between the players. Moody was desperate to keep his break going and from the baulk cushion tried a very tricky brown into the left middle which hit both jaws. Zhao now has a chance.

**ZHAO 3-1 MOODY (0-29*)**

He looks a different player now. He is such a pure potter, even when his positional play goes astray he can keep breaks going with brilliant long pots.

**ZHAO 3-1 MOODY (0-4*)**

A fantastic pot from Moody. On thebaulk cushion he stroked in a red and gets the luick he deserved, being on the green and able to get back to the reds.

ZHAO 3-1 MOODY

The frame is confirmed for Moody. That will be a relief.

ZHAO 3-0 MOODY (3-60)

Moody should be on the board. He made a composed few pots leaving Zhao leaving two snookers but, after Moody missed a pink, the world champ opted to playing on.

**ZHAO 3-0 MOODY (3-42*)**

Zhao pots a very good red, then yellow but misses a straight-forward one. As Neal Foulds says, Moody needs to get the frame won now.

**ZHAO 3-0 MOODY (0-41*)**

He loses position so has to play a safety, with the spider, leaving the ball just off the baulk cushion.

**ZHAO 3-0 MOODY (0-25*)**

He needed a long blue to continue his break and he potted it with aplomb, setting himself up for the next red.

**ZHAO 3-0 MOODY (0-8*)**

Moody gifted an opener, but he stunned the long red well and got in very good position on the black.

INTERESTING MOMENT FOR WILLIAMS EARLIER

And it educated us as to a rule not many of us knew about.

ZHAO 3-0 MOODY

Just the 17 added to the score but enough to seal the frame for Zhao.

**ZHAO 2-0 MOODY (57*-6)**

Moody potted a blue with the rest but then missed a red heading down the other side of the table. Surely this will be the frame now.

**ZHAO 2-0 MOODY (56-1*)**

Didn't see that coming! Zhao missed a black by a mile. A chance for Moody now.

**ZHAO 2-0 MOODY (56*-0)**

Moody cuts a frustrated figure. He left Zhao a chance to start a break again, which he takes with the rest. It could soon be 3-0.

ZHAO 2-0 MOODY (55-0)

It's not just his skill and break-building. It's the way he is so comfortable not taking an attempted low-percentage pot or one with little upside. For now Moody is still in the frame as he plays up to baulk.

**ZHAO 2-0 MOODY (6*-0)**

Against most players, Moody's safety would have been fine. Not against this fella. He pots diagonally across the length of the table and gets onto the blue.

LISOWSKI IS IN THE THIRD ROUND DRAW...

But told TNT Sports he is not happy with his game.

ZHAO 2-0 MOODY

It's been one-way traffic so far. It would be nice to think Moody could make things competitive.

**ZHAO 1-0 MOODY (62*-14)**

Harsh on Moody, he was angled a little by the jaw of the pocket so had to cue down on the ball - only to leave Zhao a pot to start another break.

ZHAO 1-0 MOODY (61-14)

A rare (and inadvertent) bad cannon from Zhao which leaves him out of position and means he has to play safe. He is lucky not to pot the red which lodges in the jaws of the sticky bottom-left pocket. Moody needs a snooker.

**ZHAO 1-0 MOODY (28*-14)**

He is such a skillful player. More cannons than an old billiards player.

**ZHAO 1-0 MOODY (8*-14)**

Moody gets in, but then misses a straight pink which rattled in the bottom left jaws. And left Zhao on.

ZHAO 1-0 MOODY (7-0)

Zhao pots a couple of reds, but can't get position so he accepts his deal and just plays safe.

ZHAO 1-0 MOODY (0-0)

We started the second with a prolonged bout of safety play. It is still going. Moody a little lucky to get a deflection back north when he was left in a quandary by Zhao's fine safety.

ZHAO 1-0 MOODY

Zhao pots a red along the bottom cushion, but then misses cutting a black into a blind corner.

**ZHAO 0-0 MOODY (75*-6)**

The frame is beyond Moody now and a century looks on the cards.

ZHAO 0-0 MOODY (41*-6)

He looks so composed. A player who does not look like missing when he is in an around the pink and black spot.

ZHAO 0-0 MOODY (8*-6)

A poor safety from Moody fails to get the cue ball to the baulk end and you do not want to give Zhao these type of opportunities.

ZHAO 0-0 MOODY (0-6)

Unlucky there as he left the cue ball in one of the few spots on the south of the table where he could not pot a red.

ZHAO 0-0 MOODY (0-1*)

Zhao misses a pot and Moody then cuts a red into the bottom right corner, setting himself on the blue via a cannon.

ZHAO 0-0 MOODY (0-0)

We are back underway! We only had the break from Moody before.

'Not really ideal' - DJ and scoreboard woes delay Zhao-Moody match

Video credit: TNT Sports

ANNOYING DELAY...

They are fixing the scoreboard so a delay to our main game.

I CAN BEAT ANYONE - MOODY

"I can beat anyone when I'm on my game," Moody said on TNT Sports.

On still growing at 19: "I can reach more shots. I'm massive now. I've lost weight now which helps."

I do love the cut of this lad's jib.

WELCOME TO THE EVENING SESSION

After the afternoon action, we now have Zhao Xintong in an intruding battle with Stan Moody.

RESULTS FROM THE AFTERNOON

Dylan Emery 1-4 David Grace

Barry Hawkins 4-2 Pang Junxu

Jun Jiang 4-0 Yuan Sijun

Robbie Williams 4-3 Stephen Maguire

Chag Bingyu 3-4 Jackson Page

Joe O'Connor 2-4 Wu Yize

Hossein Vafaei 1-4 Neil Robertson

ROBERTSON OVERCOMES SLOW START TO BEAT VAFAEI

After dropping the opening frame, Australian Neil Robertson won four impressive frames in a row, finishing with two centuries back-to-back to defeat Hossein Vafaei 4-1.

Robertson books his place in the last 16, where he now faces Jack Jones in the Welsh Open.

ROBERTSON 4-1 VAFAEI (118-7)

Another century for Robertson as he sweeps the reds and secures his second break of 100 in a row with a pot on the yellow.

He finishes with a break of 118 and secures a 4-1 win over Vafaei.

WATCH: ROBERTSON'S INCREDIBLE FLUKE

'Oh dear!' - Incredible fluke as Robertson somehow finds position on black

Video credit: TNT Sports

ROBERTSON 3-1 VAFAEI (33-7)

More struggles for Vafaei who struggles to get into the fifth frame, losing the cue ball and handing over to Robertson, who begins to build again.

ROBERTSON 3-1 VAFAEI

A stellar frame from Robertson sees him score a century with 100 on the dot before missing a red.

An incredible fluke on the red set him to take the frame and he did so with potting expertise.

ROBERTSON PHONE CALL INTERRUPTS BREAK

Robertson says 'it's for me' as ringing phone ends his break

Video credit: TNT Sports

AROUND THE TABLES

Dylan Emery 1-4 David Grace

Barry Hawkins 4-2 Pang Junxu

Jun Jiang 4-0 Yuan Sijun

Robbie Williams 2-2 Stephen Maguire

Chag Bingyu 2-2 Jackson Page

Joe O'Connor 2-3 Wu Yize

ROBERTSON 2-1 VAFAEI

And it's Neil who gets it down. Hossein looks poorly.

ROBERTSON 1-1 VAFAEI (56-53)

Oh! Neil misses to yellow, and the frame remains in the balance.

ROBERTSON 1-1 VAFAEI (38-51)

A long green to its own pocket ... and Hossein overrcuts it by a way, decelerating through the shot. It's going to cost him the frame and evidences his flagging confidence.

ROBERTSON 1-1 VAFAEI (38-51)

Potting the blue, Hossein snookers himself on the yellow, so off we go again with a safety battle. To watch this, you'd never think these were two elite break-builders.

ROBERTSON 1-1 VAFAEI (38-23)

Looking to bump in behind a red on the side and send it to corner, Neil doesn't get close, leaving Hossein a chance to clear; his first red is a beauty.

ROBERTSON 1-1 VAFAEI (38-23)

It's Neil in next but, looking to develop ball, he rams a pink into the bsg, the white leaping, and all he's got is a tihht cut to corner; he sinks is beautifully, and this is much better from The Thunder, a terrific green which ridiculous screw keeping him going.

ROBERTSON 1-1 VAFAEI (14-23)

Hossein is immediately into another run, but then overscrews a pink meaning a thin cut on the next red ... missed.

ROBERTSON 1-1 VAFAEI (14-6)

Hossein gets in early in three, only to miss a pink to middle; what can Neil make of it? He misses a cannon on red and black but cuts home a different ball then, with the pink on the blue spot, he uses it to open the pack ... and is on one to middle ... which he misses, a phone going off as he gets down on the shot. He finds it exactly as hilarious as you'd think.

AROUND THE TABLES

Dylan Emery 1-4 David Grace

Barry Hawkins 4-2 Pang Junxu

Jun Jiang 4-0 Yuan Sijun

Robbie Williams 2-2 Stephen Maguire

Chag Bingyu 1-2 Jackson Page

Joe O'Connor 2-2 Wu Yize

ROBERTSON 1-1 VAFAEI

Fifty-one minutes, now 28 - and both of these lads can pot. Hopefully they hit a seam soon.

ROBERTSON 0-1 VAFAEI (57-43)

Yellow then a snooker for Neil and Hossein's escape avoids leaving the green, just. For all the good it does him; he does soon offer the pot, Neil takes it, and this is 1-1.

ROBERTSON 0-1 VAFAEI (54-43)

Terrific red from Neil, snicked from just below the D into the green bag, but a poor pot on the yellow makes the yellow harder than than necessary, he misses, and this is now another struggle on the colours.

ROBERTSON 0-1 VAFAEI (51-43)

Tricky one with the rest, a red needing tickled to corner ... and it's there. This is much better from The Thunder, the frame now looking likely to be his. There's a red not far off the side, but I think Neil can get at it and, as I type, here comes the csannon ... leaving a difficult pot, which he refuses.

ROBERTSON 0-1 VAFAEI (21-43)

Simple pink to corner ... missed. Chance for Neil, who quickly reduces the deficit.

ROBERTSON 0-1 VAFAEI (0-20)

Trouble for Neil. With the reds open, he leaves a starter and Hossein, more relaxed now he's in front, gets to work.

'That's a surprise' - Robertson skews red hanging over pocket

Video credit: TNT Sports

ROBERTSON 0-1 VAFAEI

After 51 minutes, Hossein puts a dreadful frame out of its and everyone else's misery.

ROBERTSON 0-0 VAFAEI (38-53)

Neil misses a thin contact on the brown and as such, now needs a snooker; that's quite an oversight.

ROBERTSON 0-0 VAFAEI (34-53)

There've been better frames.

ROBERTSON 0-0 VAFAEI (34-46)

Neil leaves himself a cut-back yellow, but opts to play safe; he'll be feeling a bit better now, having played some decent shots in that run. He needs all the balls for the frame and quickly removes the first, the chase for green now on.

ROBERTSON 0-0 VAFAEI (14-46)

Eventually, Neil rams in a signature starter and the remainig reds are all free, but yellow, green and brown are on the bottom rail. Work to do...

ROBERTSON 0-0 VAFAEI (6-46)

This is more like it, though, Hossein working his way through the balls but once the table gets harder, he misses with the rest ... and so does Neil, a much easier shot he gets nowhere near.

ROBERTSON 0-0 VAFAEI (6-11)

Hossein gets in and out, but a nice red sets him away yet agai,n though the tale is now a difficult one.

ROBERTSON 0-0 VAFAEI (6-6)

After much prevarication, Neil gets away, then soon misses a blue – in keeping with what we've seen so far in this frame. This is very ordinary behaviour from both.

'I just feel for him' - McManus says good form will return to 'nicest boy' Lisowski

Video credit: TNT Sports

ROBERTSON 0-0 VAFAEI (0-6)

Neil's taken some hidings recerntly, 6-1 to Higgins and Murphy and 5-1 to Jak Jones, while Hossein has endured a slow season after looking like he might be ready to ensconce among the elite. It's a scrappy opening.

'Not vintage' - Williams works his way into Welsh Open last 16

Video credit: TNT Sports

'It can be pretty tough' - Lisowski says 'my game is not where I'd like it to be'

Video credit: TNT Sports

OUT COME ROBERTSON AND VAFAEI

We go again.

WILLIAMS EASES INTO LAST 16

Martin O'Donnell reached the final of this tournament in 2024, but was a long way from the form that took him there in losing 4-1 to Mark Williams, a three-time champion. A mistake from the underdog allowed the Welsh Potting Machine to take control of frame one with a run of 60, eventually closing it out, and similar happened in the second. O'Donnell just couldn't get anything going but as Williams started playing less well too, the frames began to take longer to complete. But there was never any serious sense that an upset was possible nor in the minds of either player, and though, at 3-0, ODonnell closed the gap – eventually – Williams then secured victory and and faces Barry Hawkins or Pang Junxu next.

AROUND THE TABLES

Dylan Emery 1-3 David Grace

Barry Hawkins 3-2 Pang Junxu

Jun Jiang 4-0 Yuan Sijun

Robbie Williams 0-0 Stephen Maguire

Bizarre scenes as Williams says 'shut up' after marker corrects referee error

Video credit: TNT Sports

MARK WILLIAMS BEATS MARTIN O'DONNELL 4-1

A pretty easy win for Mark, who meets Barry Hawkins or Pang Junxu next.

WILLIAMS 3-1 O'DONNELL (62-0)

Mark smashes home a starter that has Nealf purring, knocks the brown safe, and this is almost did.

WILLIAMS 3-1 O'DONNELL (60-0)

Not quite. For the third time today, Mark breaks the back of a frame without finishing it, laying a snooker after running out of position. Martin misses then this and on we go.

WILLIAMS 3-1 O'DONNELL (43-0)

Nope, he's soon into baulk, but this looks like the end.

WILLIAMS 3-1 O'DONNELL (24-0)

And Mark, who's lost form through the course of this match, is swiftly away with a terrific starter, adds the black, then a couple more reds with blacks, and he couldn't could he?

WILLIAMS 3-1 O'DONNELL

If Martin could win this one, we'd suddenly have a match, but we're soon tapping in and out of the cluster, so a re-rack is promptly agreed.

Watch: HUGE fluke as O'Donnell nudges off blue and green before missing routine red

Video credit: TNT Sports

AROUND THE TABLES

Dylan Emery 0-3 David Grace

Barry Hawkins 3-1 Pang Junxu

Jun Jiang 4-0 Yuan Sijun

WILLIAMS 3-1 O'DONNELL

Mark gets close to the long pink but leaves it to middle and Martin steers down. He's on the board, not that he looks very happy about it.

WILLIAMS 3-0 O'DONNELL (52-60)

Mark sinks brown and blue, lays a snooker on the pink ... and Martin misses his escape! Goodness. But the pot is hard and the black is one the side, so...

WILLIAMS 3-0 O'DONNELL (37-60)

Or is it? Martin can only remove the yellow and green then, with two snookers required, he goes in-off. Losing this way would be the final insult...

WILLIAMS 3-0 O'DONNELL (30-58)

But a miscue invites Martin back to the table and, though he can't get on to a second red, he soon sinks it, then takes on brown to middle ... and down it goes, good pot. Mark now needs a snooker is this is going to be one back.

WILLIAMS 3-0 O'DONNELL (23-52)

Mark leaves one to right corner but Martin can't see it away, then he gets a double kiss offers a further chance to finish. The remaining reds are all over the place, but not especially inaccessible.

WILLIAMS 3-0 O'DONNELL (9-52)

Mark, though, botches red to middle, so Martin gets away ... then butchers one to the yellow bag. An infelicitous cannon, though, means another chance to close out missed, and we're back playing safety but with plenty of balls loose.

'Save your luck' - Big fluke keeps Williams' frame-clinching break alive

Video credit: TNT Sports

WILLIAMS 3-0 O'DONNELL (1-36)

Red to middle ... stays out and might this be curtains? The scope exists.

WILLIAMS 3-0 O'DONNELL (0-24)

Starter to Martin then in behind the brown; Mark's escape leaves one, so off he goes.

AROUND THE TABLES

Dylan Emery 0-2 David Grace

Barry Hawkins 2-1 Pang Junxu

Jun Jiang 2-0 Yuan Sijun

WILLIAMS 3-0 O'DONNELL

Another one to Mark. Martin is not enjoying this.

WILLIAMS 2-0 O'DONNELL (53-51)

Brief confusion when Mark pots the yellow and no one replaces it – it was potted as a colour, not in clearing the colours – then it's sunkagain, and 3-0 is imminent.

WILLIAMS 2-0 O'DONNELL (49-51)

A foul from Martin leaves free ball, so Mark sinks the black, which is over right corner, another black brings him on to that final red, and this looks like 3-0.

WILLIAMS 2-0 O'DONNELL (35-51)

Another poor shot from Martin allows Mark in once more, but he can't sink a cut-back black – Fouldsy reckons it rolled off – so the chase for the final red is on.

WILLIAMS 2-0 O'DONNELL (34-51)

But now it's Mark who misses a simple ball, and this should really be a frame back for Martin ... then, as I type, he winds up stuck to red and pink after potting the black, so must now find a decent safety. He cannot, Mark sliding home a fine starter only to cannon the brown removing that yellow he missed earlier; end of break.

WILLIAMS 2-0 O'DONNELL (31-35)

Those disappear but he doesn't have a great angle from which to attack the pack, but does enough to liberate one red, then a pink to middle works more free. This developing into a decent run, only to undercut a ball to corner and leave the world.

WILLIAMS 2-0 O'DONNELL (23-7)

Oh dear. Martin misses to left corner, and just can't get anything going; well, I'm afraid he'll soon be doing that with his car, because he leaves a starter and Mark quickly begins administering yet further punishment. But what's this? He can't get a yellow down, so let's see what Martin can do with the three reds that are loose.

AROUND THE TABLES

Dylan Emery 0-1 David Grace

Barry Hawkins 0-1 Pang Junxu

Jun Jiang 1-0 Yuan Sijun

WILLIAMS 2-0 O'DONNELL

We mooch around for a bit, but Mark soon secures a frame that we knew was his quite some time ago.

WILLIAMS 1-0 O'DONNELL (58-6)

Again, Mark doesn't do quite enough before losing position so goes for a pot that's not really on, doing extremely well to see a red rolling into baulk hit the side rail just above the green bag. So Martin takes on another longun, missing again, only for nudges off blue and green to take it into the same green pocket. Can he capitalise? Ear, no, he misses a sitter to corner, and if he's not exploiting fortune of the sort he just had, he's not making this a contest.

WILLIAMS 1-0 O'DONNELL (20-0)

Martin goes hard at one to corner, gets nowhere near, and now looks on glumly as Mark removes balls.

AROUND THE TABLES

Dylan Emery 0-1 David Grace

Barry Hawkins 0-1 Pang Junxu

Jun Jiang 0-0 Yuan Sijun

WILLIAMS 1-0 O'DONNELL

Mark secures the frame.

WILLIAMS 0-0 O'DONNELL (60-13)

A run of 60 leaves Mark 47 ahead with 51 left – and his safety puts the only red not on a cushion on a cushion. It's hard to see Martin salvaging the frame from here.

WILLIAMS 0-0 O'DONNELL (40-13)

Mark eases through the break; the balls were all there for him, which is why Martin took such a big risk taking on that horrible pot. The frame should soon be his.

WILLIAMS 0-0 O'DONNELL (7-13)

Both players miss long pots, Mark doing so second and allowing Martin, who lost the final of this competitionin 2024, away to the yellow bag. But he soon runs out of position so, desperate to keep the run going, he takes on a nasty black to middle; it makes some sense, because if it goes down, he's set, but similarly, if it doesn't, it may cost him the frame ... and it doesn't. Let's see what Mark makes of the opportunity.