Cardiff Replaces Newport as Snooker’s Welsh Open Host

June 27, 2014

Cardiff has been announced as the host for Snooker’s BetVictor Welsh Open world ranking event, the first time since 2004 that the city has hosted the event.

The tournament has been staged in Newport in recent years but now moves to the Motorpoint Arena in the Welsh capital and will run from February 16th to 22nd, 2015. 

The BBC Wales-televised event will be contested by 128 players, all starting in the same round, with a top prize of £60,000. 

This year’s final saw Ronnie O’Sullivan thrash Ding Junhui 9-3, making an incredible 147 maximum break in the last frame. Other winners in recent years include Stephen Maguire, Ding, John Higgins, Ali Carter, Mark Selby and Neil Robertson. 

World Snooker Chairman Barry Hearn said: “The BetVictor Welsh Open has grown dramatically in recent years with increased prize money, growing live attendances and a new structure. While we are grateful to the people of Newport for their support, it is time to move the event down the M4 to the capital city to allow it to continue to build momentum. 

“The Motorpoint Arena is a top class venue and a fitting stage for the world’s very best snooker players. This is a tournament with such a rich history, ever present on our calendar as a world ranking event for over 20 years. I have no doubt that the people of South Wales will be out in force to make the 2015 Welsh Open a truly spectacular week of snooker.”