JOHN HIGGINS returned to snooker’s winners’ circle with a 9-3 victory over Ben Woollaston at the BetVictor Welsh Open to land the 26th ranking title of his career in Cardiff on Sunday night.
Read MoreHIGGINS IS THE PRINCE OF WALES
REFEREE TATIANA JOINS BEN IN THE SPOTLIGHT
THE Woollastons laid down a pretty strong claim for being declared snooker’s No1 family at the BetVictor Welsh Open in Cardiff.
Read MoreSELBY DRIVES WOOLLASTON JUNIOR TO FINAL
It is almost de rigeur for sports stars these days to make sure their family and young children get to share in their greatest moments and finals, and the BetVictor Welsh Open was no exception for Ben Woollaston, who was making his debut in a major showpiece.
Half an hour before the final against John Higgins Woollaston’s two-year-old son Edward was racing around the players’ lounge and adjacent media centre. In a great show of civic support fellow Leicester player (as well as the small matter of being world champion and world No1) Mark Selby gallantly offered to drive Edward and Ben’s mum Joy to Cardiff from home, and so was there in person to support his friend. Ben’s wife Tatiana was of course already in town having been refereeing at the tournament.
What with Willie Thorne on duty for the BBC the East Midlands city certainly could not complain about being under-represented at the Motorpoint Arena on Sunday.
HIGGINS FACES WOOLLASTON IN CARDIFF FINALE
JOHN HIGGINS will be aiming for the 26th ranking title of his career and Ben Woollaston his first when they meet in the BetVictor Welsh Open final in Cardiff on Sunday.
Read MoreFINAL FOUR EYEING CARDIFF PRIZE
THE SEMI-FINALS of the BetVictor Welsh Open feature two all-time greats, a player through to his first major semi-final and a teenager beginning to realise his potential.
Read MoreWOOLLASTON: FIRST SEMI-FINAL EDGES REACHING CRUCIBLE
BEN Woollaston had barely sealed his place in a first ever ranking semi-final when world champion, world No1 and fellow Leicester pro Mark Selby was sending him warm congratulations.
Read MoreWOOLLASTON LEFT ON THE SIDELINES
Matt Selt’s win in Group Two of the Championship League after being a late call-up to plug a gap in the seven-man line-up was a heartwarming tale…except possibly for Ben Woollaston.
The Leicester player was one of those that might technically have got the call ahead of Selt on rankings position, and was left underwhelmed by being passed over.
Selt’s ultimate victory and passage into the winners’ group continued his recent good form but is unlikely to have made world No36 Woollaston feel any better about the situation.
DING FALLS EARLY TO WOOLLASTON
DEFENDING Players Tour Championship Finals champion Ding Junhui fell at the first hurdle on Tuesday, the victim of an excellent comeback from Ben Woollaston.
Read More