Welsh Open final recap: Barry Hawkins ends three-year title drought with dominant win over Jack Lisowski to lift Ray Reardon Trophy

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Hello and welcome to TNT Sports' live coverage of the Welsh Open on Sunday, March 1 from Venue Cymru, as 2018 runner-up Barry Hawkins defeated Northern Ireland Open winner Jack Lisowski 9-5 to claim the Ray Reardon Trophy in Llandudno. Hawkins had edged Wu Yize 6-4 in the first semi-final on Saturday afternoon with Lisowski overcoming John Higgins 6-5 in an epic second semi-final.

Hawkins lifts Ray Reardon Trophy after Welsh Open final win

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FINAL: HAWKINS 9-5 LISOWSKI

Barry Hawkins secured the fifth ranking title of his career with a merited 9-5 victory over Jack Lisowski in the Welsh Open final in Llandudno.

Resuming 7-1 clear from the afternoon session, a spirited Lisowski closed the gap to 7-4 boosted by back-to-back centuries, but a fluke in the 12th frame helped Hawkins move within one frame of victory with a fine 68 break.

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"I was gone this afternoon. I was poor," said Lisowski, who earned a £150,000 bonus after an epic 6-5 win over John Higgins in the semi-finals.

"Barry was by far the better player tonight, and deserved his win. He's a great guy. I thought he played fantastic today as well."

The Ditton professional had put on a powerhouse display of scoring earlier on Sunday with breaks of 105, 67, 102, 76 and 88 helping him close in on the £100,000 first prize as his opponent produced an error-strewn session.

"It is yours to lose really at 7-1 up," said Hawkins, who almost withdrew from the event with a back injury ahead of his opening match with David Lilley.

"Things start going through your head, and at 7-1 up it could be the biggest collapse of all time.

"It is tough, but it is never over until it is over. I'm just delighted to get over the line because I was feeling it.

"It's a dream come true really."

The 2013 world finalist Hawkins ends a three-year wait for a ranking crown after his last triumph at the 2023 European Masters.

He moves back inside the world's top 10 as world No. 9 and is also set to qualify for the 12-player Tour Championship in Manchester next month based on the sport's one-year list.

'There's the little celebration' - Hawkins wraps up title

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HAWKINS 8-5 LISOWSKI (70-1)

Barry on the brink. Not sure Jack will be coming back to the table in this final. In goes black before reds are opened up. Game, set and match to 'The Hawk'.

HAWKINS 8-5 LISOWSKI (47-1)

Corking long red from Bazza, and he enjoys a super kiss off yellow. A second stab at these balls then in the frame he requires for the title.

HAWKINS 8-5 LISOWSKI (37-1)

32 compiled by Barry, but he isn't nicely on next red from the black. Studied a plant to left centre, but opts for the safety.

HAWKINS 8-5 LISOWSKI (13-1)

Excellent red by Barry along the top cushion and he holds for the black. Chance to build a healthy lead in the frame he needs for victory.

HAWKINS 8-5 LISOWSKI (0-1)

Another stunning long red early in this 14th frame by Jack. Struck with an air of attacking zest. But not much else coming from it.

HAWKINS 8-4 LISOWSKI (1-72)

These balls being snaffled up in double quick time by Jackpot. Fighting the good fight tonight after a nightmarish opening sesh. The gap again closes to 8-5.

HAWKINS 8-4 LISOWSKI (1-33)

Barry can't drop in a red to left centre. Which presents Lisowski with a golden chance to close to 8-5 in this final.

HAWKINS 8-4 LISOWSKI (1-19)

But he misses a red and smashes open the reds in doing so. Lisowski doesn't leave an easy red. Bit of running that he needs.

HAWKINS 8-4 LISOWSKI (0-19)

Think it is going to be all-out attack mode now for Jackpot. Needs all remaining five frames for the title. Drills in a fabulous long red. Which earns plenty of applause.

LATEST: HAWKINS 8-4 LISOWSKI (0-0)

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HAWKINS 7-4 LISOWSKI (76-30)

Down to the final red, and Barry slots the object ball to green bag. Jack has seen enough. Barry within one of the title.

HAWKINS 7-4 LISOWSKI (68-16)

Break reaches 60. Barry nails a red to left middle. And in goes frame-ball black. 52 clear with 51 remaining. But Jack will come back to the table. A very fine knock of 68 in the circumstances.

HAWKINS 7-4 LISOWSKI (47-16)

Barry steeling himself after the Lisowski three-frame winning burst. Will feel better with his lot if he can reach the mid-sesh holding a four-frame advantage.

HAWKINS 7-4 LISOWSKI (24-16)

How big a moment is that fluke likely to be? Will be massive if this final moves 8-4 in favour of Bazza.

HAWKINS 7-4 LISOWSKI (17-16)

Jack proving to be a different figure tonight than this afternoon. But a monster fluke by Barry on a plant on red presents him with a chance he never seen coming.

HAWKINS 7-4 LISOWSKI (0-8)

Barry with a highest break of only seven in this session so far. Which tells you the direction of travel.

HAWKINS 7-4 LISOWSKI (0-0)

But there is no late drama in this frame, and Barry has seen enough. The lead has been halved from six frames to three. Huge final frame coming up before the mid-sesh.

HAWKINS 7-3 LISOWSKI (18-59)

A tough battle in this frame, but Jack coming out on top. In goes frame-ball red with rest. And on goes Jackpot, who is on the comeback trail. Barry requiring two snookers.

HAWKINS 7-3 LISOWSKI (18-30)

Both players tapping off a red on the top cushion. Could be a re-rack on the go here. This could go on all night. Frame already going for 38 minutes. Barry breaks the stalemate by running white down to baulk end. But Jackpot then drills home a long straight red. What a pot and what a chance to close the gap to three.

HAWKINS 7-3 LISOWSKI (18-18)

Some nice safety shots being exchanged out there. Seven reds now all on top cushion with the green welded to the baulk cush.

HAWKINS 7-3 LISOWSKI (18-12)

Jack then told he must hit a red after two misses, and gets there. Tough old slog this frame with reds all welded to the top cushion.

'Just what the doctor ordered' - Lisowski picks off second ton in a row

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HAWKINS 7-3 LISOWSKI (10-12)

Barry forced to make sure he hits the red at a third attempt. Or he would lose the frame.

HAWKINS 7-3 LISOWSKI (10-4)

Barry pushes boat out by taking on a yellow to right centre, but doesn't make it. Presents easy opener to Jack.

HAWKINS 7-3 LISOWSKI (9-0)

Nice cut on a red by 'The Hawk'. Lands nicely on the blue. So chance to get to work at the business end of the table. But can't land on a red. So no big contribution. But he slots a fine long red seconds later.

HAWKINS 7-3 LISOWSKI (1-0)

Hawkins bangs in a long red straight off the bat, but doesn't land on black. So just safety to follow.

'Great start to the evening' - Lisowski makes his first century of match

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HAWKINS 7-2 LISOWSKI (4-102)

102 break to go with the 112 in the opening frame. Back to 7-3 behind. Suddenly enjoying himself out there.

HAWKINS 7-2 LISOWSKI (4-57)

A stunning shot from Jack to whip the white down the table to land on next red. Looks like final is heading back to 7-3. This is rousing stuff.

HAWKINS 7-2 LISOWSKI (4-51)

Lisowski right in stroke now, and is building some momentum here too. Can win frames quickly. Which is crucial chasing down such a deficit.

HAWKINS 7-2 LISOWSKI (4-19)

Hawkins goes all out for a tough plant on two reds. Doesn't make it, and he has stuck up another easy opener for Lisowski.

HAWKINS 7-1 LISOWSKI (0-118)

A supreme break of 112 from Jackpot, and he is back to 7-2 behind in this final. Needs a few more of those breaks tonight.

HAWKINS 7-1 LISOWSKI (0-79)

This is rapid, rapid stuff. Frame won in no time at all. Back to 7-2 behind. Night and day from this afternoon. Literally.

HAWKINS 7-1 LISOWSKI (0-55)

Well now. What a big chance for Jackpot to put down an early marker. In goes black, and he is straight into the reds. This already his highest break of the final. Which tells you a lot.

HAWKINS 7-1 LISOWSKI (0-33)

Barry short of pace in trying to escape from a snooker, and suddenly Jack is presented with a chance to get hand on table to pot a few balls.

WHAT HAS GONE WRONG FOR JACKPOT IN THIS FINAL?

Jack Lisowski came down from the high of winning the Home Nations Series bonus on Saturday evening to be mauled by Barry Hawkins in the opening session of the Welsh Open final at Venue Cymru in Llandudno. Hawkins holds a 7-1 lead in the race to nine. Watch and stream the 2025/26 snooker season, including the Welsh Open, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

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'Absolutely superb' - Hawkins picks off second century of match

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RED-HOT HAWKINS ON BRINK OF WELSH OPEN TITLE

Barry Hawkins requires two more frames to claim the Ray Reardon Trophy after opening up a 7-1 lead against an error-strewn Jack Lisowski in a one-sided Welsh Open final.

With Lisowski struggling for any sort of consistency in Llandudno, Hawkins put on a powerhouse display of scoring with breaks of 105, 67, 102, 76 and 88 to close in on the £100,000 first prize.

Hawkins has won four career ranking titles, but will celebrate a fifth on Sunday evening unless his opponent can unearth the magic that saw him edge John Higgins 6-5 on Saturday night.

The final resumes at 7pm with Lisoswki needing to win eight of the remaining nine frames.

LATEST: HAWKINS 7-1 LISOWSKI

'That's unlucky' - Hawkins shows frustration after potting blue and pink in same shot

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HAWKINS 6-1 LISOWSKI (79-9)

Another frame is going to drift away from Jackpot, who will return this evening trailing 7-1. Not sure there will be a late night tonight, but never say never.

HAWKINS 6-1 LISOWSKI (54-9)

Fine cutback pot on a red by Barry using rest to continue this contribution. Back to baulk for brown, and on goes the 2013 world finalist. Not much more to be done here to establish a six-frame lead. But he loses the white in slotting mid-range red. Safety to follow.

HAWKINS 6-1 LISOWSKI (39-9)

Barry can't drop in red to right middle, and then goes in off to the same bag. Lifeline for Jack, but he misses black off spot seconds later. Just not happening.

HAWKINS 6-1 LISOWSKI (32-4)

Barry with chance to open up a 7-1 lead ahead of tonight's closing session. Which would leave him only two short of the title. Bridging over a red to pot pink. But handled extremely well.

HAWKINS 6-1 LISOWSKI (16-4)

Nothing going right for Jackpot as he can only produced four points before another red doesn't drop. This is a nightmare session for Jack.

HAWKINS 5-1 LISOWSKI (110-0)

No century, but 88 gets the job done every day of the week. A huge frame coming up with this 6-1 advantage in the hip pocket. Can Jackpot scramble out of the arena with a second frame?

HAWKINS 5-1 LISOWSKI (95-0)

Are we going to witness a third Hawk ton? Possible 123 left up as Barry heads for the final red.

HAWKINS 5-1 LISOWSKI (68-0)

Did Jackpot run his race last night against Higgins? Totally different figure from the one who was on fire against John. Barry just picking off these balls.

HAWKINS 5-1 LISOWSKI (37-0)

This has a strong scent of 6-1 incoming. Unless there is another malfunction by Barry. Which doesn't seem likely.

HAWKINS 5-1 LISOWSKI (22-0)

But just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water, Bazza misses an easy red. Jack then fails to cash in as red with rest doesn't drop. Story of this final so far.

HAWKINS 5-1 LISOWSKI (22-0)

Jackpot would dearly love to get out this session trailing only by two frames, but there is work to be done to reach that destination. And Hawkins bangs in a bullet of a long red with top spin to regain access to the table. How much will he make here?

HAWKINS 4-1 LISOWSKI (76-28)

A very fine run of 76 from Barry to the final red, and Lisowski has seen enough. Two more frames to come in this session.

HAWKINS 4-1 LISOWSKI (63-28)

This is turning out to be the Barry Hawkins show in Llandudno today. Very clinical among the balls, and is punishing Jackpot.

HAWKINS 4-1 LISOWSKI (24-28)

Hawkins also getting the better of these safety duels out there, it must be said. Another chance then as he is left in among the balls by his opponent. A very inviting table for such a heavy scorer.

HAWKINS 4-1 LISOWSKI (0-28)

Cracks home blue to the yellow bag, but he ends up screwing back to land on a red. Which will scupper his progress here.

HAWKINS 4-1 LISOWSKI (0-14)

Blistering pot on a red to green bag by Jack. Can he get himself motoring in this final? A bit off the pace so far today.

HAWKINS 3-1 LISOWSKI (69-52)

Jack gets the double kiss on the brown, and Barry steps in to mop up brown, blue and pink for a 4-1 lead. Scrappy frame running for 22 minutes, but it falls to Bazza despite a couple of unexpected misses.

'Absolutely superb' - Hawkins picks off second century of match

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HAWKINS 3-1 LISOWSKI (54-52)

Jack just failing to release brown from side cushion off green. Safety to follow then with frame right in the mixer.

HAWKINS 3-1 LISOWSKI (54-30)

Another chance for Jackpot as he floats in a delightful long red. Gets cannon too on the black to free up final red.

HAWKINS 3-1 LISOWSKI (54-30)

Jack goes for an audacious double on a red, but nothing doing. Coming down to the final three reds in this frame.

HAWKINS 3-1 LISOWSKI (54-7)

Well, so unfortunate for Hawkins as he cracks open the pack only to see a plant on pink develop. Opportunity for Jackpot, but he then misses black off the spot. And that's a bad miss. But Barry then jaws a mid-range red. Wow! Errors aplenty.

HAWKINS 3-1 LISOWSKI (24-0)

Hawkins the dominant force so far in this final. Is Jackpot carrying a bit of burn-out after his win over John Higgins last night?

HAWKINS 3-1 LISOWSKI (0-0)

'Early statement of intent' - Hawkins kicks off final with century

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WATCH: A MINUTE'S APPLAUSE FOR SNOOKER ICON JOHN VIRGO

'Goodnight, JV' - Minute's applause for John Virgo ahead of Welsh Open final

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HAWKINS 2-1 LISOWSKI (102-0)

In goes the black off the cushion for 102,, and that will be a 3-1 lead for Barry, who looks right in the mood in the chase for the Ray Reardon Trophy.

HAWKINS 2-1 LISOWSKI (81-0)

Will Barry be running in two centuries in the first four frames? Every chance now.

HAWKINS 2-1 LISOWSKI (52-0)

Hawkins heads over the halfway mark as break reaches 52. Looks like it might be 3-1 for Barry in this final. Looks right on the money out there.

HAWKINS 2-1 LISOWSKI (30-0)

Barry with first prod at the balls again in this fourth frame. Drops in a super red with the rest and stuns across for black. Golden chance then to build a healthy lead as we speak.

HAWKINS 1-1 LISOWSKI (67-47)

Lovely stuff from Barry as he produces a clinical 67 to move 2-1 clear. Jackpot missed a red to left centre, and never got another chance. One more frame before the mid-sesh.

HAWKINS 1-1 LISOWSKI (42-47)

This could be a massive steal early on this final for 'The Hawk'. Just final red and colours to come.

HAWKINS 1-1 LISOWSKI (1-47)

Rapid stuff again here, but Jack then breaks down on 47. Didn't see that coming. What is Hawkins going to offer up in return?

HAWKINS 1-0 LISOWSKI (4-68)

Barry sticks up a red for Jack and gives Jackpot the nod. No late attempt to play on for snookers. And it is 1-1 in this final. Bright start by both men out there.

HAWKINS 1-0 LISOWSKI (4-68)

Excellent pot by Jack using rest on the pink to green bag to move 64 clear with a possible 59 still on deck.

HAWKINS 1-0 LISOWSKI (4-49)

Brilliant long red by Jack. Goes all out for that pot and keeps the white at the top end of table. Chance then to restore parity at 1-1.

HAWKINS 1-0 LISOWSKI (4-48)

A very fine knock of 48 from Jack as he take his medicine in running safe. A decent lead for Lisowski.

HAWKINS 1-0 LISOWSKI (4-37)

Was dynamite from this position last night against Higgins, and suddenly a chance to work this white ball. Lovely control of the cue ball.

HAWKINS 1-0 LISOWSKI (4-7)

A 5-2 lead for Barry in the career head-to-heads between these two players. A cagey opening to this second frame after Barry's century. Hawkins can't drop in a long red. And Jack has his first chance of the final.

HAWKINS 0-0 LISOWSKI (105-0)

How do you like that for starters? No final red down side rail, but a break of 105 from 'The Hawk' and a 1-0 lead in the race to nine. Got the black down from the baulk area early on in the contribution, and the rest was so smooth.

HAWKINS 0-0 LISOWSKI (89-0)

Barry could be kicking off this match with a century. Possible 140 on the table.

HAWKINS 0-0 LISOWSKI (51-0)

This has been quite the start from Hawkins to this match. Looks like he is going to take out this first frame in one hit. Start as you mean to go on. And all that jazz.

HAWKINS 0-0 LISOWSKI (23-0)

Barry with first bash at these balls in the first frame as a fine long red to green bag is drained. The reds are then opened up on 31. Hawkins certainly knows the way about the black spot.

HAWKINS 0-0 LISOWSKI (0-0)

A fine moment's applause for iconic former UK champion and commentator John Virgo ahead of this showpiece occasion. Both players on really good terms. Should be a friendly final, and one of genuine quality. Off we go then.

WAS LISOWSKI'S BREAK AS GOOD AS HURRICANE'S CRUCIBLE MASTERPIECE?

Jack Lisowski produced arguably the greatest break of his career as a brilliant 78 against John Higgins saw him edge a pulsating battle 6-5 in the Welsh Open semi-finals, a win that earned him a huge £150,000 bonus. The audacious nature of the break has been compared to Alex 'Hurricane' Higgins' memorable Crucible contribution of 69 in the 1982 World Championship semi-finals against Jimmy White.

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'Off-the-charts brilliant' - Lisowski wraps up win in decider

Video credit: TNT Sports

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Watch and stream the 2025/26 snooker season, including the Welsh Open, live on TNT Sports and discovery+

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