2015 Welsh Open (snooker)

"2015 Welsh Open" redirects here. For the darts tournament, see Welsh Open (darts).
2015 BetVictor Welsh Open
Tournament information
Dates16–22 February 2015 (2015-02-16 – 2015-02-22)
VenueMotorpoint Arena
CityCardiff
CountryWales
OrganisationWorld Snooker
FormatRanking event
Total prize fund£300,000
Winner's share£60,000
Highest break Luca Brecel (BEL) (140)
Final
Champion John Higgins (SCO)
Runner-up Ben Woollaston (ENG)
Score9–3
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Televised table during the quarter-finals

The 2015 Welsh Open (officially the 2015 BetVictor Welsh Open) was a professional ranking snooker tournament held at the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff from 16 to 22 February 2015. The tournament was staged in Cardiff for the first time since 2004, having moved from Newport.[1]

Ronnie O'Sullivan was the defending champion,[2] but he lost 3–4 against Matthew Stevens in the last 32.[3]

The best-performing Welsh player was Mark Williams, who reached the semi-finals of the tournament for the first time in 12 years.[4] He lost 5–6 to Ben Woollaston, who reached the first ranking final of his professional career.[5]

John Higgins defeated Woollaston 9–3 in the final to win the Welsh Open for a record fourth time and claim his first ranking title in two and a half years.[6]

  1. ^ "Welsh Open Set For Cardiff". worldsnooker.com. World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association. 26 June 2014. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  2. ^ Hafez, Shamoon (2 March 2014). "Ronnie O'Sullivan beats Ding Junhui in Welsh Open final". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 March 2014.
  3. ^ "Welsh Open: Ronnie O'Sullivan knocked out by Matthew Stevens". BBC Sport. 18 February 2015. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  4. ^ "Mark Williams breezes through to the Welsh Open semi-finals". WalesOnline. 20 February 2015. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  5. ^ "Welsh Open: Woollaston beats Williams to set up Higgins final". BBC Sport. 21 February 2015. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  6. ^ "John Higgins beats Ben Woollaston to win Welsh Open". BBC Sport. 22 February 2015. Retrieved 23 February 2015.