Mark Selby captured his second Welsh Open title after beating Stephen Maguire 9-6 in the 2025 final in Llandudno on Sunday.
The Jester produced a strong display to win a 24th career ranking event title while pocketing the £100,000 champion’s cheque.
It’s Selby’s second piece of silverware this month following his glory at the invitational edition of Championship League Snooker in his hometown of Leicester.
His British Open victory earlier in the campaign means he’s one of only three players this season who have claimed multiple ranking crowns.
There was a minute’s applause before the showdown in memory of Welsh greats Ray Reardon, who the Welsh Open trophy is named after, and Terry Griffiths, who both passed away in 2024.
When the final duly commenced, it was Selby who settled first with the 2008 champion taking a couple of scrappy frames to lead 2-0.
Maguire got on the scoreboard with a break of 60 in the third frame before Selby restored his two-frame buffer at the interval with a run of 78.
Three out of the next four frames went the way of the Scot, however, who countered Selby’s 116 century in the seventh frame with contributions of 54, 63, and 81 to draw level at 4-4.
It was much the same when the duo returned for the evening session of play in front of a big crowd at the Venue Cymru.
Selby won a tight opening frame to move in front but was quickly pegged back again as his opponent, the Welsh Open winner in 2013, dug deep to stay in touch.
The pattern then continued in the next couple of frames with Maguire producing an outstanding 71 clearance in the 12th frame to level at 6-6.
The ensuing mid-session interval probably came at the wrong time for the Glaswegian and just at the right moment for Selby, who managed to compose himself ahead of the conclusion.
World number four Selby left his challenger pointless for the next two frames, compiling breaks of 60 and 128 to establish a two-frame cushion once more.
The 41 year-old needed a couple of bites of the cherry in the 15th frame, but that proved to be the last as Selby completed the job.
It was a disappointing climax for Maguire, who could never quite get into the lead despite drawing level on numerous occasions.
But it was a strong tournament for the 43 year-old overall, whose £45,000 runner-up prize for reaching a first ranking final in five years helps him qualify for the lucrative World Grand Prix next month through the one-year rankings list.
Mark Selby, though, deserves all the accolades for a fine display that takes him to joint-seventh on the all-time ranking event winners list alongside Neil Robertson.
He survived a couple of gruelling ties during the week against Elliot Slessor and John Higgins in deciding frames.
Yet as has so often been the case during his tremendous career, he arguably saved his best snooker for the final itself.
Selby will head into the remainder of the season and the prestigious tournaments to come brimming with confidence and with his game in strong shape.
Featured image credit: WST
