England’s Mark Selby has secured his second Welsh Open title, defeating Scotland’s Stephen Maguire 9-6 in a thrilling final at Venue Cymru in Llandudno, Wales, on Sunday. Fifteen years after his first Welsh Open victory in 2008, the 40-year-old showed exceptional form, never trailing throughout the match.
Maguire displayed remarkable resilience, leveling the score four times during the intense contest. The two competitors were tied at 6-6 after 12 frames. However, from the 13th frame onward, Selby took control, winning three consecutive frames to seal the championship.
“Obviously I’m delighted,” Selby said after his victory. “It’s great to see Stephen back in finals; four years is way too long. He’s a class act, and I’m one of his biggest fans. This week I won a lot of key frames when I’ve been 40 or 50 points behind—that’s been the difference.”
This win makes Selby just the ninth player to win multiple Welsh Open titles. Having won the British Open in September 2023, he’s enjoying a successful season.
Maguire reflected positively on his performance despite the loss. “I had a good week, I’ve enjoyed myself, and I have just come up short in the end,” he said. “There’s nothing you can do when he’s potting all the balls—all credit to Mark.”
