Kent’s Barry Hawkins is the 2026 Welsh Open Snooker Champion after beating Jack Lisowski in the final on Sunday.

It is Hawkins fifth ranking title of his career and his first in three years. He overcame Lisowski by frames to nine.

Having shared the opening frames of the final, a missed black by Lisowski allowed Hawkins in and from there he reeled off the next six frames to take a 7-1 lead.

During those six frames, he knocked in two centuries and numerous high breaks and he looked in fine form as the final reached its mid match break.

Then in the evening session as expected Lisowski came back at the Hawk taking three of the opening round frames of the evening.

Hawkins then took the final frame before the interval leaving him with just one frame to seal victory.

He did that in the second frame post the interval to lift his first Welsh Open title. He also moves up to world number nine and ensures his spot in the top 16. It almost certainly ensures he will be at the tour championship in Manchester in a month’s time as well.

Surely, he will be one of the men to beat at the World Championships in April, a tournament be always goes well in.

Speaking after the final, Hawkins said: “It means the world, I came close last season to a couple of big titles, I feel I deserved this one because I have been knocking on the door for a while,” said Hawkins, who lost 9-7 in the final of this event against Higgins in 2018. “I am so relieved because playing Jack is scary, he pots balls from everywhere and when he gets going, he’s a hard man to stop. At 7-1 it’s for you to lose, things start going through your head like it could be the biggest collapse of all time. People were getting excited, but I know it’s never over until it’s over. I was feeling it out there. He came out all guns blazing tonight, I knew that might happen and I had to stay calm.

“It’s massive to climb the rankings, I knew I needed to have a run in something to qualify for Manchester, but I didn’t expect to win this one. To be in that event with only 12 players, you know you are doing something right, to be involved in it will be amazing. I want to thank the crowd here; they have supported us so well all week and that brings the best out of the top players.

“My dad is going through a lot at the moment so hopefully this will give him a boost.”

Image courtesy of World Snooker