Welsh Open snooker 2024 final as it happened – Gary Wilson defeats Martin O'Donnell to triumph

Updated 18/02/2024 at 22:04 GMT

Relive Eurosport's live updates from the Welsh Open from Venue Cymru in Llandudno as Martin O'Donnell eyed a first ranking title in his first major final as he took on Gary Wilson. O'Donnell booked his place in the final with a win over Elliot Slessor while Scottish Open holder Wilson overcame John Higgins. Stream top snooker action, including the Welsh Open, live on discovery+ and Eurosport.

Johnson and Studd impressed by Wilson’s shoes in Welsh Open final

That's all, folks!

Right, what a week it's been in Llandudno! Thanks very much for joining us, as Gary Wilson secured another ranking event title! Here's a link to our report from all the drama at Venue Cymru tonight.

Welsh Open

Wilson 'over the moon' with Welsh Open triumph, White tips him for deep run at Crucible

00:05:55

19/02/2024 at 07:34

Gary Wilson - 'What a mad few months I've had'

"Having won the Scottish, I feel like I belong in these kind of situations, but I never really expected another one to come so soon. I'm really happy with getting another one on the board. Congratulations to Martin, he's had a great tournament. He's battled really hard today.

"It was a bit of a scrappy game. It wasn't the best standard tonight.

"I started off okay today. I felt decent early on, but I kind of just lost my cue action completely in the last few frames. I don't know why. A little bit worrying to be honest! But you go through ups and downs all the time, I'm just happy to get over the line."

Martin O'Donnell - 'Gary's class'

"It's a bit disappointing. I've played some great snooker this week, some of my best. To play like that and not really make it difficult for him is disappointing, but he's still got to pot the balls and he did. He had plenty in the tank, even if I cam back. Congratulations Gary, well played."

O'Donnell 4-8 Wilson (0-82)

In the end, he has to settle for 43, before being left with a very tough pot on a red, trying to find the yellow pocket. No worries, though, Gary Wilson is the Welsh Open champion for 2024, sealing his third ranking event title!

O'Donnell 4-8 Wilson (0-75*)

A further red and black mean O'Donnell requires snookers. Another red puts to bed any chance of this match going any further than this frame. Can he finish with a big score?

O'Donnell 4-8 Wilson (0-58*)

The Wilson misses aren't being punished though. O'Donnell leaves him another pot, a mid-distance red to the left corner, which goes into the heart of the pocket. He adds the yellow and is now back at the high-scoring end of the table.

O'Donnell 4-8 Wilson (0-39)

Here's another chance for Wilson. O'Donnell puts the cue ball at the baulk end of the table, but his opponent spots an audacious plant, which is hammered home. Brown, red, blue follow, before over cutting an attempt at a third red. Another chance to Martin, whereas Gary will be hoping he's 11 points closer to the title.

O'Donnell 4-8 Wilson (0-28)

Wilson reaches 27, but is then left with a tough red with the rest. He pots it, but can't get ideal position on the pink, which he attempts to the right middle but misses by a significant distance.

O'Donnell 4-8 Wilson (0-13*)

O'Donnell is unimpressed as a roll-up safety shot leaves an easy starter for Wilson, with Martin left gesticulating to suggest the cue ball rolled off line with his safety.

Gary plays a terrific opening shot, screwing the cue ball back through a handful of balls to open things up nicely. With just one frame needed to win the title, this is an excellent chance.

Underway again

Okay; here we go. Five frames, in theory, to go. O'Donnell needs to win them all for his first ranking event title, Wilson needs just one for his third.

‘Back to his old self’ – Wilson returns to form with century break

‘Back to his old self’ – Wilson returns to form with century break

Some mid-session interval reading

In case you missed it, Gary Wilson scored a 147 yesterday. It was a remarkable break - and he nearly got one in the frame before!

O'Donnell 4-8 Wilson (44-68)

And Wilson tidies up the blue to take the frame. It lasted 42 minutes, but he'll be very pleased to win it. He needs one more for the title.

O'Donnell 4-7 Wilson (44-63)

"I honestly don't know what he's doing" says Neal Foulds, as O'Donnell makes two fouls when rejecting the chance to clip a green that is sticking out behind the pink, instead coming off the cushion and missing on two occasions. Wilson pots the green and brown. Snookers now required.

‘What on earth is he doing?’ – O’Donnell’s shot choice leaves Eurosport commentators baffled

O'Donnell 4-7 Wilson (44-47)

Now a poor safety from Wilson leaves the yellow hanging over the green pocket. O'Donnell sinks it, but misses the green.

O'Donnell 4-7 Wilson (42-47)

Wilson is left snookered, and although successful in his attempt, he stands the red up over the left middle. O'Donnell cleans is up and adds the black before playing safe off the yellow, which is tight on the baulk cushion. We're down to the colours, and given what a difference this will make to the scoreboard, these next six balls are huge.

O'Donnell 4-7 Wilson (34-47)

Wilson then plays a safety which leaves a long red for O'Donnell to the left corner. It's not an easy one, but he finds the heart of the pocket. Brown follows, and another red, before, as Neal Foulds describes it, an "awful" miss on the black. Another chance goes begging.

O'Donnell 4-7 Wilson (28-47)

Wilson's lead stretches by four points when O'Donnell goes in off, though there's no real advantage gained given the remaining reds are all tight on the cushions. Martin is asked to play the next shot, and he does bring one into play, but the safety is excellent.

O'Donnell 4-7 Wilson (28-43)

O'Donnell will have to go some to win the frame at this visit, but some good rest play and cue ball control takes him up to 28 for this visit, with three reds left on the table. Indeed, he definitely won't win it at this visit. He doesn't have the angle to find one of those reds off the pink, so plays safe.

O'Donnell 4-7 Wilson (*1-43)

Blimey, what a miss from Wilson. A straight pink to the left middle, catching the knuckle and leaving O'Donnell with position around the reds. That's a huge lifeline!

O'Donnell 4-7 Wilson (0-31*)

This is not an easy table for Wilson to come to, with the reds spread and the majority of the colours off their spot. One of them, the brown, comes to his rescue when a successful plant sees the other red run behind the pink on to which he had played. He's done really well to reach 31, and is still going.

O'Donnell 4-7 Wilson (0-4*)

Some safety play to start the 12th frame, before it's attention all pockets as Wilson plays a shot that has reds scattering all over the place. He leaves one near the right middle, and it's a very acute pot if O'Donnell fancies it. He does, but misses, and that allows Gary a very thin cut down to the right corner, sinking the red via the cushion and after a kiss with the blue.

'What a shot that is!’ – Wilson rolls in ‘absolutely brilliant’ long red

‘What a shot that is!’ – Wilson rolls in ‘absolutely brilliant’ long red

'How much more can you do?' - Animated Wilson can’t believe his misfortune as red drops in

'How much more can you do?' - Animated Wilson can’t believe his misfortune as red drops in

O'Donnell 4-7 Wilson (101-22)

O'Donnell eventually finishes with an 85, just his third half century break of the whole match. He needed his chances there, but now trails by three.

O'Donnell 3-7 Wilson (*68-22)

Well; we're guaranteed a mid-session interval. O'Donnell has well and truly taken this chance, with a 50+ break meaning Wilson requires too many snookers to worry about coming back to the table.

O'Donnell 3-7 Wilson (*40-22)

And now a regulation miss from Wilson. "Wow, he's got nowhere near it," says Foulds, as a black off its spot doesn't trouble the pocket. Another chance for O'Donnell. He's going to have to start taking these, and has started strongly enough

O'Donnell 3-7 Wilson (14-22)

It's just not working for Martin. He leaves himself a tough red to the right middle, the same pocket Wilson has just missed to, and it's the same result. "I'm afraid a few errors have really crept into his scoring game tonight, at a time when he had to up his game," says Neal Foulds on commentary.

Even worse for O'Donnell, he's left one for Wilson.

O'Donnell 3-7 Wilson (*8-21)

Here's a look at the climax to the Wilson century from the previous frame.

O'Donnell 3-7 Wilson (*8-21)

Is Wilson starting to purr? He makes a bright start to frame 11, but runs out of luck when going into the pack and leaving himself a very difficult blue. A pot attempt at that sees it bounce back off the knuckle of the right middle, and now O'Donnell has a chance of his own.

O'Donnell 3-7 Wilson (12-108)

An excellent little nudge on the brown, taking it away from the left cushion, means a triple figure score is very much achievable. He subsequently gets there off the pink, and finished with a 107. He's two frames from the title.

O'Donnell 3-6 Wilson (12-59*)

This has been a complete paradox to the opening frame of the evening. Wilson looks much more fluent, and his cue ball control has improved significantly. He races past 50 for the visit, and now O'Donnell needs snookers. Can he register a century?

O'Donnell 3-6 Wilson (12-22*)

That piece of bad luck doesn't cost Wilson too much, though. A horror miss on a red from O'Donnell leaves the door open again. This time, he doesn't have to worry about a split, and there's a good chance for Gary to put some points on the board.

O'Donnell 3-6 Wilson (*12-1)

Things are just not going Wilson's way. After being left a nice opening by O'Donnell, he fires home a blue, swinging the cue ball into the pack. However, a red whistles into the corner pocket. He's spread the table, and his opponent is now setting about making use of it.

O'Donnell 3-6 Wilson (59-25)

Wilson initially reduces the deficit by potting a red, but he then misses an attempt at the blue which means he needs three snookers. There's no concession, though. Instead, he eventually pots the final red, and adds the black. An attempted safety on the yellow leaves it over the pocket though, so he says enough is enough. O'Donnell takes the first frame of the evening.

O'Donnell 2-6 Wilson (59-15)

It must be said, this has not been a good frame from Wilson. Another poor safety leaves a red along the top cushion for O'Donnell. He's not 44 ahead with 43 left on.

O'Donnell 2-6 Wilson (58-15)

A bit of bad luck for Gary, as he pots the red O'Donnell misses, and then from the resulting blue, attempts to open the reds on the cushion up. He does so successfully, except one of them somehow ends up in the middle pocket!

He's left in a snooker by Martin's following shot, and can't escape. Even worse, he leaves an opener. O'Donnell's edging closer to the winning line in this frame.

O'Donnell 2-6 Wilson (35-14)

An excellent O'Donnell safety once again causes Wilson problems, as he's in behind the blue and snookered on those remaining reds. The first attempt is a foul after lacking pace, although only slightly. It goes back, and this time he hits the blue. An easy opener for Martin, using the rest. Green follows, but then a missed red. This has been very scrappy.

O'Donnell 2-6 Wilson (31-14)

"He knows he should have made more than that" says Neal Foulds, as O'Donnell breaks down on 13. The table looks utterly bizarre now, too. The yellow and blue are the only colours on their spots, while there are seven reds left on the table, one of which is on the top cushion, while five are nestled on the right cushion, a few inches above the corner pocket.

O'Donnell 2-6 Wilson (*25-14)

And that safety battle proves a long one, with both players conceding points through a foul apiece, before O'Donnell misses a red the left corner by several inches. That leaves a chances, although a tough one, for Wilson, and he cannot convert, with the object ball rolling right around the pocket before staying up. An opening for Martin now, who, incidentally, had a chat with the referee a few minutes ago, that left the official having a conversation with another member of staff on duty.

O'Donnell 2-6 Wilson (14-10)

Wilson opens the reds up with an attacking safety, and a few shots later, having been left in a world of bother by O'Donnell, finds a cracking, delicate long red, bridging over the green to gently cut it home. Unfortunately, he doesn't have a colour to follow, and we're now in the midst of another safety battle.

O'Donnell 2-6 Wilson (14-9)

O'Donnell's final scoring shot of that visit though was the blue, which he finished too straight on and had to screw back for a red down the cushion. He doesn't look comfortable in attempting it and misses. Over to Gary, but just the eight added for him, before losing cue ball control.

O'Donnell 2-6 Wilson (*14-1)

Wilson is first in on this occasion, potting a red that had come up the table to the baulk end. He then misses a cut on the brown by quite a margin though, and, even worse, the cue ball heads up to the business end. O'Donnell has a nice starter, and is starting to build a break.

O'Donnell 2-6 Wilson

We're heading for a re-rack, so those 17 points will count for nothing. An attempted plant from Wilson sees a red roll over the right corner pocket. Neither player can see it to pot, so after a few nudges, the pair nod at each other and we're going to start again.

O'Donnell 2-6 Wilson (17-0)

And it's O'Donnell who has first sight of a pot this evening. A mistake from Wilson leaves a red to the right corner, which he converts well. He then takes the blue, before a terrific second red sees him screw into the pack to gently open things up.

A bright start, but he never quite has control of the cue ball and eventually falls down on 17 when a run-through off the yellow sees the white nestle in between pink and red.

Here we go!

The boys are on the baize and the final continues! Remember, it's the first to nine for victory, so there's still a possible nine frames this evening. Wilson breaks off, needing three for victory.

What victory means

The Welsh Open is the fourth and final Home Nations event of the 2023/24 season. Judd Trump has won two of them, the English and Northern Irish Opens, while Wilson has lifted the other in Scotland.

Chasing glory

This is the first ranking event final of Martin O'Donnell's career, so, naturally, he's hoping to lift a first piece of silverware. As for Gary Wilson, he has won two previous tournaments - the 2022 and 2023 Scottish Opens.

Catch up on what's happened

Here's our report from the afternoon session, detailing everything you need to know about what's happened so far.

The action so far

The afternoon session was a bit of a marathon, with Wilson taking it 6-2. He actually won the first four frames, including a top break of 98 in the first.

After the mid-session interval, things were a little more even and the pair split evenly split the four frames, with O'Donnell compiling a delightful to ensure he only trails by four going into this evening.

Good evening

Hello and welcome back to our coverage from the Welsh Open! The final session of the tournament is upon us. Who will be lifting the trophy by the end of the night? Stick with us to find out!

Latest: O'Donnell 2-6 Wilson

Thanks for joining us today. We will return at 6:45pm when the final of the Welsh Open is played to a finish. Wilson chasing three more frames for victory, the £80,000 winner's cheque and the Ray Reardon Trophy in Llandudno.

Former Shoot Out champion Chris Wakelin needs a Wilson win to book his spot in the Players Championship this week, but O'Donnell will aim to find his top form from 6-2 behind to make a fight of it tonight.

O'Donnell 1-6 Wilson (92-1)

No ton to conclude as red to yellow pocket hits the yellow, but a knock of 92 is a rousing way to finish before he goes for a spot of dinner. Wilson with a 6-2 lead.

O'Donnell 1-6 Wilson (77-1)

Finishing off the frame in style, and could end the session with a nice century of his own, the fifth he has made of the tournament.

O'Donnell 1-6 Wilson (46-1)

Going along nicely again in this frame, but we were here in the previous frame. Worked so hard to reach 39, and should really put frame to bed at this visit.

O'Donnell 1-6 Wilson (1-1)

Another early chance eludes O'Donnell as a red to right centre doesn't drop. Wilson not at peak form this afternoon, but doesn't need to be. Doing enough to win frames with a bit to spare. And he is in again, but Wilson then misses an easy black. That was a real blunder. Reprieve for Martin.

O'Donnell 1-5 Wilson (45-59)

Chances for both men, but it is Wilson who comes on strong again at the business end as he clears to the pink with a clinical collection of pots to move 6-1 clear in the race to nine. One more frame to come of this session. Surely a must-win for the Minister.

O'Donnell 1-5 Wilson (45-39)

Well, Wilson brings final red off side rail, but can't tickle it home to yellow pocket. Wasn't easy. O'Donnell then misses green, but gets a huge slice of luck in fluking a snooker which Wilson escapes from. Suddenly a bout of safety to sort out this penultimate frame of the session.

O'Donnell 1-5 Wilson (44-9)

But just when he looked good to tie up the frame, he misses a black off the spot and the break crunches to a halt on 39. What a chance he has let go there. What will it cost him?

O'Donnell 1-5 Wilson (30-0)

A couple of superb reds from the Minister along the top cushion at the start of this seventh frame. Very fine potting. And he has improved his levels after losing the first four frames of this final. Is looking very sharp from close range. Showing suddenly the quality that did for world champion Luca Brecel in the last eight.

O'Donnell 1-4 Wilson (10-67)

Wilson adds a few extra reds to seal the deal in this frame. He is 5-1 ahead, needing four more frames for victory and the £80,000 first prize.

O'Donnell 1-4 Wilson (4-57)

On the cusp of a 5-1 lead as Wilson rolls in a red with the rest. Fine cameo contribution. Break of 52 this time should be enough to see out this sixth frame of the final.

O'Donnell 1-4 Wilson (4-20)

Wilson with a fine long and he gains control of the table after Martin fails to escape from a snooker attempting to hit reds. Gary on the move with a red to the top pocket and gets white out for the blue to green bag. Which he sinks. Obvious chance here to regain his four-frame lead in this final.

O'Donnell 1-4 Wilson (4-0)

Another delightful cut on a red to left centre by O'Donnell as he tries to build some momentum in this final, but he then butchers a pot on a red using the rest.

O'Donnell 0-4 Wilson (73-23)

Well, Wilson tried to hunt down the snookers. Gets one, but Martin holds off any late drama to finally claim the frame. Back to 4-1 behind. Would dearly love to claim another two frames of the three left in this session.

O'Donnell 0-4 Wilson (66-4)

This has been a brilliant contribution from Martin. Just when he needed it. And he is surely going to register his first frame of the day in the final. Break of 66 from Martin. Wilson needs three snookers.

O'Donnell 0-4 Wilson (30-4)

Wilson handed another early chance, but misses brown off spot after crashing into the pack of reds. O'Donnell then slots red followed by a tough black in bridging over another red. What a brave shot that was. Can he crack on here with a decent contribution at this visit? Big moments for the MOD in this final. And an excellent recovery pot on a red down table to yellow pocket.

O'Donnell 0-4 Wilson

"I feel for Martin, he's a bit in Shredsville at the moment. He's all over the office, and can't even play a safety shot," says six-time world finalist Jimmy White on Eurosport. "He's struggling Martin, even when he gets an opportunity."

O'Donnell 0-3 Wilson (5-106)

Another rapid break of 43 to see off the fourth frame. In similar style to his semi-final with John Higgins, Gary Wilson races out to a 4-0 lead.

O'Donnell 0-3 Wilson (5-71)

Glorious pot by O'Donnell to sink a red to right middle with white on top cushion. That will be good for his confidence levels. But he then overcuts a red before Wilson does likewise. A real struggle for Martin though as another red eludes him. Looks like 4-0 coming up.

O'Donnell 0-3 Wilson (0-63)

A bit careless not to kill off the frame at that visit by Gary, but he again plays a demanding safety shot. Martin well under the cosh out there.

O'Donnell 0-3 Wilson (0-57)

But only 40 from Wilson this time as he butchers a long red. O'Donnell handed a lifeline when 4-0 looked certain. Might still be. Gary floats in a long red over the top bag. Looks like a clean sweep before the mid-session break.

O'Donnell 0-3 Wilson (0-34)

O'Donnell's highest break so far is only 15, with 13 balls potted. Wilson rolls in another fine red along top cush. And is in again here. Martin will be fearing the worst the way Gary is getting through the cue ball.

O'Donnell 0-3 Wilson (0-10)

No rapid start to the fourth frame by Wilson, but he continues to ask questions of O'Donnell with his safety approach. A very solid all-round game. And he is willing to be patient. Almost drives in a long red, but the object ball rattles jaws. So, so close.

O'Donnell 0-3 Wilson (0-10)

O'Donnell is tempted by a cross double on red. Doesn't drop and he ends up leaving it over right centre pocket. So another starter on a red for Gary to take advantage of.

O'Donnell 0-2 Wilson (0-102)

Breaks of 55 and 43, and a 3-0 lead for Gary in this Welsh Open final.

O'Donnell 0-2 Wilson (0-66)

No counter punch from the Minister is forthcoming, and this third frame is a done deal in favour of the avid Newcastle United fan. All flowing the way of the Scottish Open champion. One more frame before the mid-session interval. Big one for Martin you suspect in the overall context of this final.

O'Donnell 0-2 Wilson (0-59)

This looks very ominous for Martin at the moment. After an elongated second frame, this could be a quick kill for Wilson in the third frame. Nice 55 from Wilson after cannon on reds from black doesn't go to plan. And a good safety to end his visit to the table.

O'Donnell 0-2 Wilson (0-21)

Superb long red from Gary to gain access to the table in this third frame. Pops in a long red with a lovely cut. No doubt he has began this final looking the likelier figure. Chance to build a decent lead here.

O'Donnell 0-1 Wilson (74-44)

Wilson finally puts away the blue and pink with the frame running for one hour and seven minutes. Finally, it is a done deal. And a 2-0 lead for Wilson in this final.

O'Donnell 0-1 Wilson (63-44)

This frame not disappearing quietly into the afternoon. Still at it. With O'Donnell chasing the snooker he needs on the brown. The frame into the 64th minute as the Minister is forced to take out brown.

Johnson and Studd impressed by Wilson’s shoes in Welsh Open final

O'Donnell 0-1 Wilson (63-37)

O'Donnell continues to battle for snookers in this marathon second frame. Almost ties Wilson up behind green, but a solid swerve shot gets him out of a tight spot.

O'Donnell 0-1 Wilson (63-24)

O'Donnell needing two snookers, and gets one of them after Gary misses the red off two cushions. So still a bit of life left yet in this frame.

O'Donnell 0-1 Wilson (63-16)

Players back on the baize. This frame already running for 30 minutes after the delay in play. Wilson looking good to double his lead.

O'Donnell 0-1 Wilson (63-16)

No question about who has made the fast start in this final. Gary right on point among the balls. A very natural break-builder when he is in the mood. O'Donnell needs a snooker with Wilson on a break of 52. Players leaving the arena due to someone falling ill in the arena.

O'Donnell 0-1 Wilson (24-16)

This table seems to be pulling to the right a bit today. Wilson binning a tricky red with rest before rolling in a lovely blue to right centre. So he looks to be back in business then in this second frame. Black out of commission. So will have to do his work off the pink.

O'Donnell 0-1 Wilson (16-11)

Only a break of 15 from Martin on that occasion as another red to a top pocket eludes him. Yet to fully settle in this final, but is managing to come up with some fine safety shots.

O'Donnell 0-1 Wilson (8-11)

Well, Martin yet to settle in this final, but is handed a glorious chance to get hand on table when Wilson misses blue using rest to right centre. That is a serious let-off for O'Donnell, who should make a few at this visit.

O'Donnell 0-1 Wilson (1-4)

Bit of a cautious start to this second frame of the afternoon. O'Donnell with attempt on a mid-range red after safety error by Wilson, but hasn't left anything. Wilson then misses a red, but poor effort by his opponent to gain position. And that will be all he manages from this visit.

O'Donnell 0-0 Wilson (1-98)

Green doesn't drop in green with the rest for Gary, but wasn't a gimme. Break of 98 gets the job done every day of the week. A 1-0 lead for the man from Tyneside. Gary cooking with gas right from the outset.

O'Donnell 0-0 Wilson (1-72)

Well, this has been an impeccable start from Wilson. Picking up from where he left off against Higgins. Racing through these balls will little thought. All instinct. What a start to this final. The MOD being punished for missing a tricky red.

O'Donnell 0-0 Wilson (1-21)

First real chance of the day falls to Wilson after O'Donnell attempts a tricky cutback on a red only to see it stick in the jaws. So close to that one, but he has left Gary an easy starter to get his cue arm working here.

O'Donnell 0-0 Wilson (1-0)

Wilson goes for a tricky red down length of table to green bag. Doesn't drop in jaws, and easy opener as he drops in red, but just the safety to follow.

O'Donnell 0-0 Wilson (0-0)

So here we go then with the Welsh Open final. Eight frames to be played this afternoon, a possible nine frames tonight. Both players given a huge reception by the fans inside Venue Cymru in Llandudno. Wilson to get the action off and running. 2-2 on the career head-to-heads.

A spot of black magic from the Minister

A stunning black helped the 'Minister of Defence' Martin O'Donnell complete a 5-3 win over world champion Luca Brecel in the last eight. A few more of these today will do just nicely from the Minister, who can attack as well as he defends.

Watch the dramatic finish to O’Donnell’s clash with Brecel at the Welsh Open

Wilson holds nerve to see off Higgins

John Higgins fought back from 4-0 and 5-1 behind to close to 5-4 in their semi-final, but Gary Wilson staggered over the line to stay on track for a rare Scottish Open and Welsh Open title double in the same season. Here is how he closed it out quite majestically before a sell-out crowd last night.

'It's been a rollercoaster ride' - Wilson seals Welsh Open final spot with break of 73

Semi-final recap

Gary Wilson produced a sizzling passage of play, which included a 147 break, to beat five-time winner John Higgins 6-4 in the semi-finals of the Welsh Open.

Higgins went into the weekend as the hot favourite to win his first ranking title since 2021, but never recovered from a scoring blitz from the Scottish Open champion.

Earlier, Martin O’Donnell booked his place in a first ranking final by making a century in the deciding frame for a 6-5 win over Elliot Slessor.

With both players surprising participants in the last four relative to their rankings, and with plenty at stake, nerves were to the fore throughout.

It was O’Donnell who made the fewer mistakes - and held his nerve superbly in the face of a late rally from Slessor - as he set up a meeting with either Higgins at Venue Cymru in Llandudno.