Jack Lisowski secured his place in the final of the Welsh Open, overcoming a strong challenge from five-time champion John Higgins in a thrilling 6-5 victory in Llandudno on Saturday, February 28th, 2026.
The 34-year-old Lisowski, ranked 22nd in the world, mounted a remarkable comeback after trailing 3-1, ultimately denying the 50-year-old Higgins a chance to claim the Ray Reardon Trophy. Lisowski’s performance included impressive breaks of 95, 79, 138, 58, and a decisive 78 to close out the match.
“I knew I was playing well. I turned the game around after the interval and I was just thinking ‘keep it going’,” Lisowski stated to BBC Sport following the semi-final win. He described playing against Higgins as being “like you’re playing a god,” acknowledging the difficulty of facing such an experienced and decorated opponent.
Higgins had initially taken a strong lead, aided by a 73 break in the third frame. But, Lisowski responded emphatically after the interval, winning three consecutive frames without Higgins scoring a single point. He then followed this with a sublime century break, having previously missed the black for a century in an earlier frame. Higgins briefly halted Lisowski’s momentum with an 82 break, but Lisowski ultimately held his nerve to secure the victory.
Lisowski’s win marks the first time he has reached the final of the Welsh Open. He previously secured his first ranking title at the Northern Ireland Open in October, defeating Judd Trump.
Lisowski will now face Barry Hawkins in the final, scheduled for Sunday, March 1st, at 13:00 GMT. Hawkins advanced to the final after defeating Wu Yize 6-4 in his semi-final match. The winner of the final will receive £100,000.
The final session between Lisowski and Hawkins is expected to be a closely contested affair, with Hawkins aiming for his fifth ranking title. Lisowski, having demonstrated his ability to recover from a deficit against Higgins, will be looking to carry that momentum into the championship match.
