Jimmy White backs ‘top player’ Gary Wilson to go deep at World Championship after Welsh Open win
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Updated 19/02/2024 at 00:04 GMT
Eurosport expert Jimmy White believes Gary Wilson has to be considered a contender to win the World Championship after claiming the 2024 Welsh Open title. Wilson beat Martin O'Donnell 9-4 in Llandudno to lift the Ray Reardon Trophy and seal a third ranking event in 15 months. Stream top snooker action, including the Welsh Open, live on discovery+ and Eurosport.
Wilson 'over the moon' with Welsh Open triumph, White tips him for deep run at Crucible
Jimmy White has backed Gary Wilson as one of the players to watch at the World Championship after the Englishman clinched his second ranking title of the season at the Welsh Open.
Wilson raced into a 6-2 lead against Martin O’Donnell in the final in Llandudno before winning 9-4 to cap off a memorable week, which also included a 147 break against John Higgins in the semis.
After waiting 18 years for a maiden ranking event win, victory in Wales was his third in the space of 15 months following back-to-back Scottish Open triumphs.
He joins Judd Trump in holding two of the Home Nations titles and Eurosport expert White believes he has now proved he belongs in such illustrious company.
“The damage was done in the first session going 4-0 up,” White said. “Martin was always trying to play catch up and he didn't really get any chance of getting his teeth into the final.
“He had a few chances, he could have got it to 7-5 but Gary proved that he's a great match player. And if he would have come back at him, Gary would have had some left in the tank. He’s a great player.
“That performance against John Higgins in the first three frames, we often see that from Judd Trump, Ronnie O'Sullivan, Mark Selby. To be able to have that in your armoury to reel off three or four frames no matter who's in the seat, just shows you that he is a top scorer and a real dangerous player.
“I think he will do well in the World Championship this year, for sure.”
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Alan McManus echoed White’s sentiments, pointing to the manner in which Wilson has wrapped up his three ranking titles as proof he is one of the best in the world.
“There's only less than a handful of tournaments left this season and he's up there something like fourth or fifth on this season's performances with two wins. And it's fully deserved as well.
“This isn't like he's fudging his way through the draw, somehow finding his way in a final and getting it done.
“He dominated the Scottish Cup and those three Home Nations finals that he's won, he's been 6-2 in front going into the evening session in all of them and he's won all of them pretty much at a canter and you can only do those things if you're a top player.”
Wilson: 'It's the trophy that counts'
It was far from a classic final as both players struggled to settle into a rhythm. O’Donnell was going for a first title and appeared overawed by the occasion at times, with Wilson leaning on his experience to take advantage.
He took a 6-2 lead into the evening session and never truly looked like being caught despite being well below his scintillating best.
Often his own biggest critic, the Englishman admitted it likely won’t be a match he remembers with much fondness but was understandably delighted to return to the winners’ circle so soon after his success in Edinburgh last December.
“Over the moon overall,” Wilson said. “I think there was a mixture of things today. The balls didn't go the same way as what they did maybe yesterday. I started off OK, it got a little bit scrappy and I missed a few.
“I did lose my cueing in the last few frames but as I say overall delighted. A little bit of a shame not to not to play a bit better today but Martin dug in. Even though I was struggling and I missed a few balls my safety play was really good.
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‘Never expected another one to come along so soon’ – Wilson delighted to add Welsh Open to CV
“I kept putting him in the right position and bang on the cushion. And I just kept playing solid even though I was struggling.
“Not one to look back on if I'm being hyper critical to myself. I won’t look back on this and go, ‘What a great final’ but it’s the trophy that counts.”
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