There will be plenty of experience on display during the semi-finals of the 2025 Welsh Open on Saturday in Llandudno.
Two former world champions will face off against each other over 11 frames in the opening last-four contest at the Venue Cymru.
The second penultimate-round clash will then see a pair of six-time ranking events winners – and a couple of former Welsh Open champions – do battle.
Let’s take a look at both matches in the Welsh Open semi-finals.
Luca Brecel vs Mark Selby
The opening fixture on Saturday will mark a repeat of the 2023 World Snooker Championship final, where Luca Brecel edged Mark Selby to claim his maiden Crucible crown.
Incredibly, this is Brecel’s first appearance in a ranking event semi-final since that memorable fortnight in Sheffield.
The Belgian Bullet’s form was so diabolical in 2024 that there were even whispers that he could end up losing his tour card.
Those fears have now subsided, and astonishingly he has conversely put himself into a stronger position on two other unlikely fronts.
Brecel would secure a last-gasp spot at the World Grand Prix in Hong Kong if he can overcome Selby and reach the Welsh Open final this week.
Going one further and winning the event would also prove sufficient enough to usurp Neil Robertson in the Home Nations rankings and nab the £150,000 bonus that’s on offer for the series leader this term.
Selby, of course, will have other ideas as he chases a second piece of silverware in February on the World Snooker Tour.
Earlier this month, the Englishman added the Championship League invitational title to the British Open crown he already captured in September.
Selby’s first ranking title came at the 2008 Welsh Open and a triumph again this year would expand his career tally to 24.
When is it? Saturday, February 15th at 1pm UTC
Stephen Maguire vs Ali Carter
A battle of the six-time ranking event champions and two former Welsh Open winners, Stephen Maguire challenges Ali Carter in the second semi-final tie.
It’s remarkable to think that someone of Maguire’s stature hasn’t been to this stage of a ranking tournament since he reached the last four of the 2021 Welsh Open.
The Scot was once a regular presence at the business end of competitions, but he has generally struggled to reproduce his best standard across the last decade or so on the circuit.
The saying ‘form is temporary, class is permanent’ would be an apt way to describe Maguire, because at his very best he was as dangerous as they come.
By reaching the Welsh Open semi-finals, he has given himself a shot at another ranking success but also a possible ticket to Hong Kong for the World Grand Prix as well.
Maguire has risen to 32nd on the provisional one-year ranking list, which would be enough to see him qualify should Brecel fail to beat Selby.
Carter will have a say about that, with the Captain through to his first semi-final since winning the season-opening Championship League (ranking edition).
The Englishman boasts a superior head-to-head record against Maguire, although he did lose to the Glaswegian when they last crossed paths at the World Championship in 2024.
When is it? Saturday, February 15th at 7pm UTC
Featured photo credit: WST
