Snooker’s Welsh Open comes north in 2023

ONE of snooker’s most historic tournaments the Welsh Open will be staged in Llandudno for the first time in 2023.

The event will run from February 13 to 19 next year at Venue Cymru in Llandudno.

The venue has hosted many successful snooker events in recent years, including the 2022 Tour Championship.

The Welsh Open has been ever present on the snooker calendar since 1992 and is the sport’s longest running ranking event other than the World Championship and UK Championship.

It has an international television audience of hundreds of millions.

A total field of over 70 players in Llandudno will include the top 16 seeds.

All other tour players will go through a qualifying round, to be staged in advance.

The Welsh Open is the last in the season’s Home

Nations Series, following the Northern Ireland Open, Scottish Open and English Open. Many of snooker’s greats have lifted the trophy, including Stephen Hendry, Steve Davis, John Higgins, Ronnie O’sullivan, Neil Robertson, Mark Selby, Shaun Murphy, Ding Junhui and home favourite Mark Williams.

Joe Perry added his name to that list last season when he beat Judd Trump in the final in

Newport.

WST Chairman Steve Dawson said: “We are delighted to bring the Welsh Open to Llandudno for the first time.

“This event has been traditionally staged in South Wales but we know that snooker has a huge supporter base in the north so this is tremendous news for fans in the area.

“Venue Cymru has proved a superb setting for our tournaments and

Llandudno is one of the most beautiful locations we visit.

“Everyone connected with the event will look forward to the trip to Llandudno and I’m sure the local fans will get behind this tournament and make sure it stays in North Wales.”

■ Tickets are on sale now, with a special opening offer of 20% off tickets for the first four days of the event from February 13 to

16. See wst.tv/tickets*