Barry Hawkins defeated Jack Lisowski 9-5 in the final of the Welsh Open snooker tournament on Sunday, March 1st, at the Venue Cymru in Llandudno, Wales. The victory marks Hawkins’ triumph in the 35th edition of the tournament, securing him the trophy and a prize of approximately €115,000.
The final session saw Hawkins extend his lead significantly, finishing with a 9-5 win after a dominant performance. The first session, played earlier in the day, concluded with Hawkins leading 7-1. Lisowski, despite a late attempt to rally, could not overcome the substantial deficit established by his opponent.
The tournament saw several notable upsets earlier in the week. Mark Selby, the defending champion, was eliminated in the first round following a surprising defeat to Jiang Jun. Shaun Murphy similarly experienced an early exit. Kyren Wilson and Mark Williams, a local favorite, also failed to advance to the later stages of the competition, falling in the round of 16.
The Welsh Open 2026 attracted a total prize fund of nearly €632,000. The tournament, part of the Home Nations Series, featured a strong field of players despite the absence of Judd Trump and Ronnie O’Sullivan. The event was broadcast live on Eurosport and streamed on HBO Max, offering comprehensive coverage including live scoring and video highlights.
During the tournament, an unusual incident occurred when Neil Robertson inadvertently potted the pink ball instead of the red during a match against Jones, prompting a reaction of surprise, captured on video. Another incident involved a referee being briefly removed from the table by Mark Williams after a disputed call.
The tournament concluded with Lisowski expressing self-criticism following his defeat, acknowledging Hawkins’ strong performance. Eurosport’s coverage included a feature titled “The History of the Tournament,” highlighting Hawkins’ victory and the overall narrative of the Welsh Open.
