Mumbai pro cue Ishpreet Chadha stuns Gary Wilson at Welsh Open in Round 1 | Sport-others News

Mumbai cue Ishpreet Singh Chadha has defeated defending champion Gary Wilson in a best-of-7 frames match in the main draw of the Welsh Open 2025, prevailing 4-3.Ishpreet had earlier become first Indian snooker player in 10 years to make a Tour semifinal, beating Mark Sel. The Indian showed tremendous fighting qualities and composure to come from 2-3 down to claim the final two frames. Wilson had won the 2024 Welsh Open, defeating Martin O’Donnell in the final, to claim his third ranking title, but was bounced out in the 2025 edition.
Ishpreet had advanced through the Welsh Open qualifiers, securing a 4-0 victory over Thailand’s Baipat Siripaporn in the Round of 128 and another 4-0 win against England’s Ashley Carty in the Round of 64.
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Against Wilson, Ishpreet didn’t start too well, missing an easy early red in the opening frame, leaving his opponent a lucrative chance. Wilson potted one red, went into the bunch with the blue, but ended up knocking one of the reds into the pocket, thus fouling and opening up the table. The Indian capitalised and sealed the frame to go 1-0 up.
The second frame was scrappy. Wilson got a chance and took a 40-odd lead with three reds on the table. Ishpreet continued to fight until the end, down 20 on the brown, which Wilson potted. Ishpreet potted blue and continued trying a snooker on pink, which his rival potted to level the frames.
Ishpreet started with a fine opening red before diligently working to craft a break (46) around the black spot with gentle nudge cannons in the third. His approach was systematic, but he missed a regulation red with a slightly awkward bridge on the shot.
Wilson too missed a simple black off the spot, and Ishpreet sealed the frame thereafter with consent play and used the rest whenever required, going up 2-1.Story continues below this ad
In the fourth frame, the Yasin Merchant-coached Ishpreet, true to his nature, went aggressively for a tough red but missed. Wilson would pounce on it, finally finding his groove with an unassailable break of 92.
Wilson made a ridiculous plant shot at this point, took a few colours, and looked to open a tight bunch of reds with the blue. He landed on the wrong side of the blue but played a fantastic shot with follow/right side, going between green and brown off two cushions into the bunch.
Wilson gained a significant lead and sealed the frame on his next visit to lead 3-2.
In the sixth frame, both players had a couple of chances, but Ishpreet kept ticking the scoreboard and was attacking in his approach, not flinching despite the odd setback. His willingness to take his chances forced a decider.Story continues below this ad
In the thrilling decider, Ishpreet opened with a fantastic long red but wasn’t lucky in terms of position. He gave a snooker and got a few points in fouls before racing to a 42-0 cushion. Frustration clearly got to Wilson. Trailing 67-0 with five reds, he snookered behind the brown in a tinge of misfortune, absolutely ramming the white into the cushion in desperation, fouling.

The defending champ followed this with a handshake, conceding the frame and match. Ishpreet had played strategically throughout the match. The victory continued Ishpreet’s march to the Top 64 and automatic tour card retention.