Mark Williams, the local favorite, advanced to the last 16 of the 2026 Welsh Open by defeating Martin O’Donnell 4-1 on Wednesday. The two-time champion, despite not being in his best form, capitalized on a lackluster performance from O’Donnell at Venue Cymru in Llandudno.
Throughout the match, Williams showcased his skills with breaks of 60, 58, and 57, which allowed him to secure a spot in the next round of the season’s final Home Nations tournament. He noted afterwards that both players struggled with the table’s cushions, making the game more challenging.
“I thought I played alright,” Williams said while reflecting on the match. He acknowledged the difficult conditions, explaining how the cue ball’s speed off the cushions made it tricky to maintain good positioning during play. “When the cue ball is coming off two or three times quicker than when it’s going on, it’s difficult to get in good position,” he remarked.
Williams hasn’t progressed to the latter stages of the Welsh Open since 2021 when he reached the semifinals. The last time a Welsh player contested the final was in 2003, the same year Williams last reached the final, having won the tournament in 1996 and 1999.
Expressing his desire to see a Welsh player contend for the Ray Reardon Trophy, Williams highlighted the fantastic atmosphere, remarking, “The crowd is fantastic, and it’s a great arena.” He emphasized the dedication of the supporters, noting that even early matches attracted sizable crowds. “Even at 10 o’clock in the morning, there’s 500 people in there, and you don’t get that in many comps these days.”
Joining Williams in the last 16 is Cwmbran’s Jak Jones, who secured a 4-2 win against Anthony McGill, and Jackson Page, who managed a 4-3 victory over Chang Bingyu. However, Dylan Emery’s journey ended with a 4-1 loss to David Grace. Looking ahead, Williams is set to face Barry Hawkins for a chance to enter the quarter-finals on Thursday.
With the crowd rallying behind them, there is hope that a Welsh player can ultimately lift the trophy, marking a significant achievement for local snooker fans.