"Like two different games": Lisowski frustrated but on course for bumper jackpot prize

World number ten Xiao was on the cusp of advancing in the £550,400 world ranking event held at the Venue Cymru as breaks of 51, 50 and 113 helped him to a 3-1 lead.

But Lisowski strung together the final three frames (83 break, frame six) for a 4-3 recovery win, taking a tense deciding frame on the final pink.

Having lost all six of his previous ranking final appearances, Lisowski claimed his maiden professional title earlier this season in very emotional circumstances when he ousted good friend Judd Trump 9-8 in the final to win the 2025 Northern Ireland Open in Belfast. Lifting The Alex Higgins Trophy came just months after the unexpected death of his father.

Since that breakthrough triumph, though, it has been a disappointing return of results for Lisowski, who coming into this event had won only two ranking event matches since towards the end of November.

However, despite that unsatisfying run of recent form, this week represents a huge opportunity for ‘Jackpot’ who could pocket a quarter of a million pounds in prize money.

As well as The Ray Reardon Trophy, the winner of this week’s event will collect £100,000, but should Lisowski reach the final - at time of writing, he is three more match wins away from that - he would win this season’s Home Nations Series order of merit race and scoop the £150,000 bonus prize.

“I’m just plodding, plugging away”: Lisowski trying to turn around form

Still in with a shout of this lucrative double, but Lisowski admitted after his win over Xiao that he is struggling with his game and searching for a remedy.

Chatting with Alan McManus on TNT Sports, the 34-year-old said: “I am happy, just plodding along, currently just trying to find a bit of form.

“I’m just not playing, my game’s not where I’d like it to be, it’s quite frustrating at the minute to be out there sometimes but I’m battling away, and I feel like I won two games in a row now I could have quite easily lost.

“It’s a weird game, sometimes it’s a bit of confidence. I think I’m just sort of trying to search for something. I’ll practice again today. I done about two hours last night, just trying to find something.

“It’s just like for me, snooker’s like two different games. When I’m flying, it’s so much fun and I feel like I can pot anything and put the white ball anywhere. When I’m not, sometimes when I’m struggling, I think the distance between my good game and my bad game is probably as wide as any other pro. So it can be pretty tough for me out there.

“I’m trying. I’m not going to throw the towel in but, yeah, it’s deflating when I know I’m not anywhere near kind of what I’m capable of at the moment, so I’m just plodding, plugging away and trying to find something.”

Lisowski will face home player Jackson Page on Thursday after the Welsh youngster pipped Chang Bingyu, 4-3. The result eliminated Scottish Open finalist Chang from the Home Nations bonus race.

To view the full draw, results, schedule, and other information from the 2026 Welsh Open, visit here.