| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Dates | 15–21 February 2016 |
| Venue | Motorpoint Arena |
| City | Cardiff |
| Country | Wales |
| Organisation | World Snooker |
| Format | Ranking event |
| Total prize fund | £324,000 |
| Winner's share | £60,000 |
| Highest break |  Ding Junhui (CHN) (147) |
| Final | |
| Champion |  Ronnie O'Sullivan (ENG) |
| Runner-up |  Neil Robertson (AUS) |
| Score | 9–5 |
← 2015 2017 → | |
The 2016 Welsh Open (officially the 2016 BetVictor Welsh Open) was a professional ranking snooker tournament held at the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff from 15 to 21 February 2016. It was the sixth ranking event of the 2015/2016 season.
The defending champion John Higgins lost 1–4 against Michael White in the last 16.[1]
Playing Barry Pinches in the first round, Ronnie O'Sullivan declined the opportunity to make a maximum break, describing the £10,000 prize money on offer as "too cheap". He potted the pink off the penultimate red and made a 146. World Snooker chairman Barry Hearn called O'Sullivan's actions "unacceptable" and "disrespectful".[2]
Ding Junhui made the 117th official maximum break in the sixth frame of his quarter-final against Neil Robertson. It was Ding's sixth maximum break in professional competition.[3]
O'Sullivan met Robertson in the final. From 2–5 behind, O'Sullivan won seven frames in a row, finishing with a break of 141 in the 14th frame, to defeat Robertson 9–5 and equal John Higgins's record of four Welsh Open titles.[4] It was O'Sullivan's 28th ranking title, which put him in joint second place with Higgins and Steve Davis for the number of career ranking titles.[5]
- ^ "Ronnie O'Sullivan wins at Welsh Open but John Higgins is out". BBC Sport. 18 February 2016. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
- ^ "Ronnie O'Sullivan criticised after turning down 'too cheap' 147 at Welsh Open". BBC Sport. 16 February 2016. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
- ^ "Ding Junhui goes where Rocket refused to go as he sweeps to brilliant 147". RTÉ Sport. 19 February 2016. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
- ^ "Ronnie O'Sullivan beats Neil Robertson to win a fourth Welsh Open title". BBC Sport. 21 February 2016. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
- ^ "Rocket Romps to Welsh Title". worldsnooker.com. World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association. 21 February 2016. Retrieved 21 February 2016.