Barry Hawkins Wins Welsh Open 9-5 Over Lisowski

Barry Hawkins claimed his fifth ranking title by defeating Jack Lisowski 9-5 in the final of the Welsh Open on Sunday at Venue Cymru in Llandudno, Wales. The 46-year-old Englishman, known as The Hawk, overcame a back injury that nearly forced him to withdraw from the tournament, securing the £100,000 first prize and etching his name on the Ray Reardon Trophy.

Hawkins dominated the afternoon session, racing to a 7-1 lead with breaks of 105, another century, 76, and 88. Lisowski, 34, mounted a spirited comeback in the evening, firing in centuries of 112 and 102 to close the gap to 7-4. The world number 22 won another frame in a tactical battle, but Hawkins steadied with a 68 break and clinched the match in the 14th frame, making 70 to seal victory. Hawkins had advanced through a challenging draw, beating David Lilley 4-3 in the first round, Pang Junxu 4-2 in the second, Mark Williams 4-2 in the third, Neil Robertson 5-3 in the quarterfinals, and Wu Yize 6-4 in the semifinals.

The win marked Hawkins' first ranking event triumph since the 2023 European Masters and propelled him to ninth in the world rankings. It came after a season of quarterfinal exits, with Hawkins admitting he...