Elliot Slessor v Martin O’Donnell live stream | Welsh Open Semi-Final preview
Slessor is appearing in his third ranking semi-final (PA Images / Alamy Stock Photo)
Elliot Slessor and Martin O’Donnell lock horns in a battle of the left-handers on Saturday for a place in the Welsh Open final.
There will be a first-time ranking event finalist at Venue Cymru in Llandudno this week, with one of the players set to advance to the biggest match in their career to date.
John Higgins or Gary Wilson will await the victor of this showdown between the players ranked 50th and 76th in the world respectively.
They have already taken out a combined six ranking event winners this week as they both look to join that club on Sunday evening.
In reaching his third ranking semi-final – having also advanced to this stage of the 2017 Northern Ireland Open and 2021 British Open – Slessor is comfortably enjoying his best of performance of the season.
The Newcastle cueist, who had never previously progressed beyond the Welsh Open last 16, recently started working with highly respected coach Chris Henry and appears to be reaping the rewards of the partnership.
Putting their work into practice has been evident with Slessor regularly reading notes while not at the table during his quarter-final victory over two-time ranking event winner Dominic Dale.
After receiving a walkover following Andrew Higginson’s withdrawal, he has also seen off Dylan Emery and former European Masters champion Fan Zhengyi this week.
Meanwhile, O’Donnell is fresh from claiming a hugely impressive of reigning World champion Luca Brecel in the quarter-finals.
The Londoner is appearing in the last four of a ranking event for the second time, having also reached this stage of the 2018 Shoot Out.
O’Donnell had never previously progressed beyond the last 32 at the Welsh Open.
However, he has enjoyed a timely upturn in fortune this week, also defeating Chris Wakelin, Anthony Hamilton and Marco Fu along the way.
Play gets under way at 1pm GMT on Saturday and will be contested over the best of 11 frames at Venue Cymru in Llandudno.
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