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Selby sees off Maguire to seal second Welsh Open title

Jonathan Davies in Welsh Open

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Mark Selby v Stephen Maguire live stream | Welsh Open 2025 Final preview

Selby lifted the Ray Reardon trophy on Sunday (Every Second Media/Alamy Live News)

Mark Selby captured his second Welsh Open title on Sunday following a 9-6 victory over Stephen Maguire in the final.

The Jester led 3-1 but was pegged back to 6-6 at Venue Cymru in Llandudno, before winning the last three frames to lift the Ray Reardon trophy and pocket the top prize of ยฃ100,000.

It was Selby’s 24th ranking title – 17 years after his first which, ironically, was also at the Welsh Open, making it the longest span between victories in the event.

The world number four also enjoyed his fifth success in the Home Nations success – moving him outright second on the all-time list behind Judd Trump (six).

Meanwhile, Maguire was forced to settle for a runners-up medal in his first ranking final since the 2020 Tour Championship.

“I’m happy with the way I played,” Selby said. “I felt like I had a lot of run of the ball at key times. That’s the difference at this level.

“It’s great to see Stephen back in finals again; [over] four years is way too long. He’s a class act and I’m one of his biggest fans.

“This week, I’ve won a lot of key frames when I’ve been 40 or 50 behind; when it gets down to the last red and it’s been quite nip and tuck, I’ve won quite a few of those.

“In the last six to eight months, I’ve not been winning them, and that’s probably been the difference between [this and] me not going on a good run.”

Both players were appearing in their third Welsh Open final, and aiming to become the ninth multiple winner of the third longest-running ranking event on the calendar.

A run of 43 gave Selby the opening frame, while he won the safety battle on the colours in the next before eventually knocking in a long green to double his lead.

Maguire, who won this event in 2013, responded with 60, but ran out of position on 24 in frame four – punching the table in frustration – and the Jester punished him with a 78 clearance to restore his two-frame buffer.

The Scotsman controlled the next two frames with contributions of 54 and 63 to level. Selby regained his advantage with a superb 116 and looked good to head into the evening session 5-3 to the good.

However, he broke down on 41 after missing a red to the centre, while an uncharacteristically loose safety shot was pounced on by Maguire, who cleared with 81 to square things up at 4-4.

The six-time ranking event winner had the chance to edge his nose ahead in the final for the first time upon the resumption. But a missed green allowed Selby to clear the colours and snatch the ninth frame on the black.

The Jester, seeking his third silverware of the season having also triumphed at the British Open and Championship League, responded to Maguire’s 55 in frame 10 with 67 in the next to move back in front.

He then had the chance to regain a two-frame cushion with 60 in the 12th. Yet, he somehow missed a red to the left corner, and Maguire produced a stunning 71 counter clearance to level at 6-6.

However, the mid-session interval came at the right time for Selby, who dusted himself down and returned with another 60, while a wonderful 128 total clearance put him two frames to the good and, more importantly, one away from victory.

At 37-0 up, the four-time World champion missed a pink to the left centre. However, Maguire could not respond and a missed long red opened the door for Selby, who got over the line with a further contribution of 30.

“I had a good week, I enjoyed myself and just came up short in the end,” Maguire added. “It’s a pity there was an interval [at 6-6], I’d have preferred to carry on.

“He played well in the last three frames; I never really saw a ball until the last minute. There’s nothing you can do when he’s potting all the balls.”