TOURNAMENT HISTORIES - WELSH OPEN (formerly WELSH PROFESSIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP)

The first Welsh Professional Championship was held as long ago as the 1920s when J.S. Nicholls beat W. Davies, and Tom Carpenter won in 1927, but it was another 50 years before there was another contest.

In 1977, the only two Welsh professionals at the time, Ray Reardon and Doug Mountjoy, met in Caerphilly with Reardon winning 12-8.

Even though the event was sponsored, by William Hill, it was not a success and it was not until 1980 that an official championship was established and by now, Cliff Wilson and Terry Griffiths had doubled the number of entries.

H.P.Bulmer provided sponsorship through their Woodpecker brand and the event was staged at Ebbw Vale. Mountjoy beat Reardon in the final and these two were to alternate as champions until 1984 when Bulmers transferred the sponsorship to their Strongbow brand.

It was all change in 1985. A new venue, Abertillery, new sponsors, BCE, and there was a new champion in the shape of Terry Griffiths who won again at the same venue in 1986. The event moved to the Newport Centre in 1987 where Mountjoy won again. After three years of different sponsors, there followed three years under the Senator Windows banner. Griffiths won a third title and Mountjoy a fifth before a new name, Darren Morgan was added to the roll of honour in 1990.

Despite the withdrawal of the WPBSA support for such events after 1989, the Welsh, unlike the other home countries, had the backing from sponsors to enable them to continue. Regal were the new sponsors in 1991 when Darren Morgan successfully defended his title.

However that was to prove to be the end of the story. Regal switched their sponsorship to a new Welsh Open ranking event at the same venue and there has not been a Welsh Professional Championship since.

With sponsorship from Imperial Tobacco through their Regal brand, the Welsh Open began in 1992, initially in February immediately following the Benson & Hedges Masters but then it took over the early January date formally occupied by the Mercantile Credit Classic.

One or two of the top players, including Steve Davis and Jimmy White decided not to take part in that first year but in following years all players entered. Darren Morgan was a popular home finalist but it was Stephen Hendry who won the first title at the Newport Centre which was the venue for the first seven years.

In 1999 it moved to the Cardiff International Arena where it remained until 2004 when the event was staged at the Welsh Institute of Sport. In 2005 the event moves backs to its traditional home at the Newport Centre. The centre has had a complete refurbishment and was reopened by the Queen during her Jubilee tour in 2002, as part of vibrant redevelopments throughout Newport since it became Wales' newest city.

Hendry, Steve Davis, Ken Doherty, Mark Williams and Paul Hunter have each won the event twice with John Higgins completing the roll of honour. In 1999 Ronnie O’Sullivan made the only 147 so far seen in the final stages although the following season, Barry Pinches made one in the qualifying rounds. Hendry made it three wins when he took the last Regal sponsored title in 2003.

Welsh players have found success hard to come by since the event went 'Open', but Mark Williams has lifted the trophy twice, in 1996 and 1999.

Only the British Open, UK Championship and the World Championship, among ranking events, have a longer unbroken history without a change of name. With the enforced ending of tobacco sponsorship, the event was without a sponsor in 2004 but that did not prevent a thrilling final with Ronnie O’Sullivan having to win the last three frames to edge out veteran Steve Davis.

O'Sullivan retained his title in 2005 but only by the narrowest of margins, winning a deciding frame in the final against Stephen Hendry.

The pre-event favourites fell by the wayside in 2006 and Stephen Lee and Shaun Murphy came through to contest the final. But the World Champion wasn't to add another title to his c.v as Stephen Lee dominated the match to win 9-4.

WELSH PROFESSIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

WELSH OPEN

WELSH OPEN 147s