# 2016 Welsh Open (snooker)

The 2016 Welsh Open (officially the 2016 BetVictor Welsh Open) was a professional ranking snooker tournament held at the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff from 15 to 21 February 2016. It was the sixth ranking event of the 2015/2016 season.
The defending champion John Higgins lost 1–4 against Michael White in the last 16.
Playing Barry Pinches in the first round, Ronnie O'Sullivan declined the opportunity to make a maximum break, describing the £10,000 prize money on offer as "too cheap". He potted the pink off the penultimate red and made a 146. World Snooker chairman Barry Hearn called O'Sullivan's actions "unacceptable" and "disrespectful".
Ding Junhui made the 117th official maximum break in the sixth frame of his quarter-final against Neil Robertson. It was Ding's sixth maximum break in professional competition.
O'Sullivan met Robertson in the final. From 2–5 behind, O'Sullivan won seven frames in a row, finishing with a break of 141 in the 14th frame, to defeat Robertson 9–5 and equal John Higgins's record of four Welsh Open titles. It was O'Sullivan's 28th ranking title, which put him in joint second place with Higgins and Steve Davis for the number of career ranking titles.

## Prize fund

The breakdown of prize money is shown below:
The "rolling 147 prize" for a maximum break was £10,000 (2nd ranking event since it was last won, £5,000 added for each ranking event)

## Main draw

128 players started the tournament with 12 tables in the arena in the early stages.

### Top half
#### Section 1

| Last 128 Best of 7 frames | Last 128 Best of 7 frames | Last 64 Best of 7 frames | Last 64 Best of 7 frames | Last 32 Best of 7 frames | Last 32 Best of 7 frames | Last 16 Best of 7 frames | Last 16 Best of 7 frames |
| John Higgins | 4 | | | | |
| Andy Hicks | 0 | | | | |
| Andy Hicks | 0 | John Higgins | 4 | | |
| | | Sam Baird | 0 | | |
| Sam Baird | 4 | Sam Baird | 0 | | |
| Thor Chuan Leong | 2 | | | | |
| Thor Chuan Leong | 2 | | | John Higgins | 4 |
| | | | | Michael Georgiou | 1 |
| Peter Ebdon | 4 | | | Michael Georgiou | 1 |
| Zhang Anda | 0 | | | | |
| Zhang Anda | 0 | Peter Ebdon | 2 | | |
| | | Michael Georgiou | 4 | | |
| Jamie Jones | 0 | Michael Georgiou | 4 | | |
| Michael Georgiou | 4 | | | | | | |
| Michael Georgiou | 4 | | | | | John Higgins | 1 |
| | | | | | | Michael White | 4 |
| Liang Wenbo | 4 | | | | | Michael White | 4 |
| Hatem Yassen | 0 | | | | | | |
| Hatem Yassen | 0 | Liang Wenbo | 4 | | | | |
| | | Gary Wilson | 1 | | | | |
| Gary Wilson | 4 | Gary Wilson | 1 | | | | |
| Jimmy White | 1 | | | | | | |
| Jimmy White | 1 | | | Liang Wenbo | 1 | | |
| | | | | Michael White | 4 |
| Michael White | 4 | | | Michael White | 4 |
| Joe O'Connor | 2 | | | | |
| Joe O'Connor | 2 | Michael White | 4 | | |
| | | Tom Ford | 3 | | |
| Tom Ford | 4 | Tom Ford | 3 | | |
| Jason Weston | 1 | | | | |

#### Section 2

| Last 128 Best of 7 frames | Last 128 Best of 7 frames | Last 64 Best of 7 frames | Last 64 Best of 7 frames | Last 32 Best of 7 frames | Last 32 Best of 7 frames | Last 16 Best of 7 frames | Last 16 Best of 7 frames |
| Mike Dunn | 4 | | | | |
| Chris Wakelin | 3 | | | | |
| Chris Wakelin | 3 | Mike Dunn | 3 | | |
| | | Ryan Day | 4 | | |
| Ryan Day | 4 | Ryan Day | 4 | | |
| Vinnie Calabrese | 0 | | | | |
| Vinnie Calabrese | 0 | | | Ryan Day | 1 |
| | | | | Mark Allen | 4 |
| Robin Hull | 4 | | | Mark Allen | 4 |
| Hossein Vafaei | 2 | | | | |
| Hossein Vafaei | 2 | Robin Hull | 3 | | |
| | | Mark Allen | 4 | | |
| Mark Allen | 4 | Mark Allen | 4 | | |
| Sam Craigie | 0 | | | | | | |
| Sam Craigie | 0 | | | | | Mark Allen | 4 |
| | | | | | | Barry Hawkins | 3 |
| Xiao Guodong | 1 | | | | | Barry Hawkins | 3 |
| James Cahill | 4 | | | | | | |
| James Cahill | 4 | James Cahill | 1 | | | | |
| | | Mark Davis | 4 | | | | |
| Mark Davis | 4 | Mark Davis | 4 | | | | |
| Zhao Xintong | 2 | | | | | | |
| Zhao Xintong | 2 | | | Mark Davis | 2 | | |
| | | | | Barry Hawkins | 4 |
| Robbie Williams | 4 | | | Barry Hawkins | 4 |
| Luke Simmonds | 3 | | | | |
| Luke Simmonds | 3 | Robbie Williams | 3 | | |
| | | Barry Hawkins | 4 | | |
| Barry Hawkins | 4 | Barry Hawkins | 4 | | |
| Lee Walker | 2 | | | | |

#### Section 3

| Last 128 Best of 7 frames | Last 128 Best of 7 frames | Last 64 Best of 7 frames | Last 64 Best of 7 frames | Last 32 Best of 7 frames | Last 32 Best of 7 frames | Last 16 Best of 7 frames | Last 16 Best of 7 frames |
| Shaun Murphy | 4 | | | | |
| Itaro Santos | 1 | | | | |
| Itaro Santos | 1 | Shaun Murphy | 4 | | |
| | | Mitchell Mann | 3 | | |
| Zhou Yuelong | 2 | Mitchell Mann | 3 | | |
| Mitchell Mann | 4 | | | | |
| Mitchell Mann | 4 | | | Shaun Murphy | 2 |
| | | | | Luca Brecel | 4 |
| Luca Brecel | 4 | | | Luca Brecel | 4 |
| Ian Burns | 3 | | | | |
| Ian Burns | 3 | Luca Brecel | 4 | | |
| | | Mark King | 3 | | |
| Mark King | 4 | Mark King | 3 | | |
| Scott Donaldson | 0 | | | | | | |
| Scott Donaldson | 0 | | | | | Luca Brecel | 2 |
| | | | | | | Ding Junhui | 4 |
| Ding Junhui | 4 | | | | | Ding Junhui | 4 |
| Steven Hallworth | 1 | | | | | | |
| Steven Hallworth | 1 | Ding Junhui | 4 | | | | |
| | | Joe Swail | 3 | | | | |
| Joe Swail | 4 | Joe Swail | 3 | | | | |
| Zak Surety | 1 | | | | | | |
| Zak Surety | 1 | | | Ding Junhui | 4 | | |
| | | | | Matthew Selt | 3 |
| Matthew Selt | 4 | | | Matthew Selt | 3 |
| Nigel Bond | 0 | | | | |
| Nigel Bond | 0 | Matthew Selt | 4 | | |
| | | Sydney Wilson | 1 | | |
| Gerard Greene | 3 | Sydney Wilson | 1 | | |
| Sydney Wilson | 4 | | | | |

#### Section 4

| Last 128 Best of 7 frames | Last 128 Best of 7 frames | Last 64 Best of 7 frames | Last 64 Best of 7 frames | Last 32 Best of 7 frames | Last 32 Best of 7 frames | Last 16 Best of 7 frames | Last 16 Best of 7 frames |
| Jamie Burnett | w/d | | | | |
| Ross Muir | w/o | | | | |
| Ross Muir | w/o | Ross Muir | 3 | | |
| | | Graeme Dott | 4 | | |
| Graeme Dott | 4 | Graeme Dott | 4 | | |
| Darryl Hill | 1 | | | | |
| Darryl Hill | 1 | | | Graeme Dott | 2 |
| | | | | Marco Fu | 4 |
| Andrew Higginson | 2 | | | Marco Fu | 4 |
| Daniel Wells | 4 | | | | |
| Daniel Wells | 4 | Daniel Wells | 1 | | |
| | | Marco Fu | 4 | | |
| Marco Fu | 4 | Marco Fu | 4 | | |
| Joel Walker | 0 | | | | | | |
| Joel Walker | 0 | | | | | Marco Fu | 2 |
| | | | | | | Neil Robertson | 4 |
| Thepchaiya Un-Nooh | 4 | | | | | Neil Robertson | 4 |
| Paul Davison | 2 | | | | | | |
| Paul Davison | 2 | Thepchaiya Un-Nooh | 1 | | | | |
| | | Anthony McGill | 4 | | | | |
| Anthony McGill | 4 | Anthony McGill | 4 | | | | |
| Liam Highfield | 3 | | | | | | |
| Liam Highfield | 3 | | | Anthony McGill | 2 | | |
| | | | | Neil Robertson | 4 |
| Stuart Carrington | 4 | | | Neil Robertson | 4 |
| Jordan Brown | 0 | | | | |
| Jordan Brown | 0 | Stuart Carrington | 1 | | |
| | | Neil Robertson | 4 | | |
| Neil Robertson | 4 | Neil Robertson | 4 | | |
| Fraser Patrick | 3 | | | | |

### Bottom half
#### Section 5

| Last 128 Best of 7 frames | Last 128 Best of 7 frames | Last 64 Best of 7 frames | Last 64 Best of 7 frames | Last 32 Best of 7 frames | Last 32 Best of 7 frames | Last 16 Best of 7 frames | Last 16 Best of 7 frames |
| Mark Selby | 4 | | | | |
| Duane Jones | 0 | | | | |
| Duane Jones | 0 | Mark Selby | 4 | | |
| | | Peter Lines | 2 | | |
| David Grace | 2 | Peter Lines | 2 | | |
| Peter Lines | 4 | | | | |
| Peter Lines | 4 | | | Mark Selby | 4 |
| | | | | Fergal O'Brien | 2 |
| Ali Carter | 4 | | | Fergal O'Brien | 2 |
| Cao Yupeng | 1 | | | | |
| Cao Yupeng | 1 | Ali Carter | 3 | | |
| | | Fergal O'Brien | 4 | | |
| Fergal O'Brien | 4 | Fergal O'Brien | 4 | | |
| Noppon Saengkham | 3 | | | | | | |
| Noppon Saengkham | 3 | | | | | Mark Selby | 4 |
| | | | | | | Mark Williams | 2 |
| Mark Williams | 4 | | | | | Mark Williams | 2 |
| Lu Chenwei | 3 | | | | | | |
| Lu Chenwei | 3 | Mark Williams | 4 | | | | |
| | | Rod Lawler | 2 | | | | |
| Rod Lawler | 4 | Rod Lawler | 2 | | | | |
| Sanderson Lam | 3 | | | | | | |
| Sanderson Lam | 3 | | | Mark Williams | 4 | | |
| | | | | Kurt Maflin | 2 |
| Kyren Wilson | 3 | | | Kurt Maflin | 2 |
| Leo Fernandez | 4 | | | | |
| Leo Fernandez | 4 | Leo Fernandez | 1 | | |
| | | Kurt Maflin | 4 | | |
| Kurt Maflin | 4 | Kurt Maflin | 4 | | |
| Hammad Miah | 3 | | | | |

#### Section 6

| Last 128 Best of 7 frames | Last 128 Best of 7 frames | Last 64 Best of 7 frames | Last 64 Best of 7 frames | Last 32 Best of 7 frames | Last 32 Best of 7 frames | Last 16 Best of 7 frames | Last 16 Best of 7 frames |
| Dechawat Poomjaeng | 4 | | | | |
| Craig Steadman | 1 | | | | |
| Craig Steadman | 1 | Dechawat Poomjaeng | 4 | | |
| | | Robert Milkins | 1 | | |
| Robert Milkins | 4 | Robert Milkins | 1 | | |
| Sean O'Sullivan | 3 | | | | |
| Sean O'Sullivan | 3 | | | Dechawat Poomjaeng | 3 |
| | | | | Yu Delu | 4 |
| Yu Delu | 4 | | | Yu Delu | 4 |
| Ian Glover | 3 | | | | |
| Ian Glover | 3 | Yu Delu | 4 | | |
| | | Ricky Walden | 3 | | |
| Ricky Walden | 4 | Ricky Walden | 3 | | |
| James Wattana | 3 | | | | | | |
| James Wattana | 3 | | | | | Yu Delu | 1 |
| | | | | | | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 4 |
| Jimmy Robertson | 4 | | | | | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 4 |
| Michael Wild | 3 | | | | | | |
| Michael Wild | 3 | Jimmy Robertson | 4 | | | | |
| | | Michael Holt | 1 | | | | |
| Michael Holt | 4 | Michael Holt | 1 | | | | |
| Hamza Akbar | 3 | | | | | | |
| Hamza Akbar | 3 | | | Jimmy Robertson | 0 | | |
| | | | | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 4 |
| Tian Pengfei | 4 | | | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 4 |
| Ashley Hugill | 2 | | | | |
| Ashley Hugill | 2 | Tian Pengfei | 0 | | |
| | | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 4 | | |
| Ronnie O'Sullivan | 4 | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 4 | | |
| Barry Pinches | 1 | | | | |

#### Section 7

| Last 128 Best of 7 frames | Last 128 Best of 7 frames | Last 64 Best of 7 frames | Last 64 Best of 7 frames | Last 32 Best of 7 frames | Last 32 Best of 7 frames | Last 16 Best of 7 frames | Last 16 Best of 7 frames |
| Judd Trump | 4 | | | | |
| Michael Leslie | 0 | | | | |
| Michael Leslie | 0 | Judd Trump | 4 | | |
| | | Rory McLeod | 1 | | |
| Rory McLeod | 4 | Rory McLeod | 1 | | |
| Michael Wasley | 3 | | | | |
| Michael Wasley | 3 | | | Judd Trump | 4 |
| | | | | Alan McManus | 2 |
| Alan McManus | 4 | | | Alan McManus | 2 |
| Rhys Clark | 3 | | | | |
| Rhys Clark | 3 | Alan McManus | 4 | | |
| | | Mark Joyce | 1 | | |
| Mark Joyce | 4 | Mark Joyce | 1 | | |
| Gareth Allen | 0 | | | | | | |
| Gareth Allen | 0 | | | | | Judd Trump | 3 |
| | | | | | | Joe Perry | 4 |
| Joe Perry | 4 | | | | | Joe Perry | 4 |
| Tony Drago | 0 | | | | | | |
| Tony Drago | 0 | Joe Perry | 4 | | | | |
| | | Li Hang | 2 | | | | |
| Li Hang | 4 | Li Hang | 2 | | | | |
| Chris Melling | 0 | | | | | | |
| Chris Melling | 0 | | | Joe Perry | 4 | | |
| | | | | Ken Doherty | 2 |
| David Gilbert | 4 | | | Ken Doherty | 2 |
| Zhang Yong | 0 | | | | |
| Zhang Yong | 0 | David Gilbert | 3 | | |
| | | Ken Doherty | 4 | | |
| Ken Doherty | 4 | Ken Doherty | 4 | | |
| Lu Ning | 0 | | | | |

#### Section 8

| Last 128 Best of 7 frames | Last 128 Best of 7 frames | Last 64 Best of 7 frames | Last 64 Best of 7 frames | Last 32 Best of 7 frames | Last 32 Best of 7 frames | Last 16 Best of 7 frames | Last 16 Best of 7 frames |
| Matthew Stevens | 4 | | | | |
| David Morris | 2 | | | | |
| David Morris | 2 | Matthew Stevens | 4 | | |
| | | Martin O'Donnell | 2 | | |
| Stephen Maguire | 3 | Martin O'Donnell | 2 | | |
| Martin O'Donnell | 4 | | | | |
| Martin O'Donnell | 4 | | | Matthew Stevens | 3 |
| | | | | Martin Gould | 4 |
| Jack Lisowski | 4 | | | Martin Gould | 4 |
| Eden Sharav | 2 | | | | |
| Eden Sharav | 2 | Jack Lisowski | 3 | | |
| | | Martin Gould | 4 | | |
| Martin Gould | 4 | Martin Gould | 4 | | |
| Adam Duffy | 1 | | | | | | |
| Adam Duffy | 1 | | | | | Martin Gould | 1 |
| | | | | | | Ben Woollaston | 4 |
| Dominic Dale | 3 | | | | | Ben Woollaston | 4 |
| Alfie Burden | 4 | | | | | | |
| Alfie Burden | 4 | Alfie Burden | 1 | | | | |
| | | Ben Woollaston | 4 | | | | |
| Ben Woollaston | 4 | Ben Woollaston | 4 | | | | |
| Jamie Cope | 0 | | | | | | |
| Jamie Cope | 0 | | | Ben Woollaston | 4 | | |
| | | | | Anthony Hamilton | 3 |
| Oliver Lines | 1 | | | Anthony Hamilton | 3 |
| Allan Taylor | 4 | | | | |
| Allan Taylor | 4 | Allan Taylor | 2 | | |
| | | Anthony Hamilton | 4 | | |
| Stuart Bingham | 1 | Anthony Hamilton | 4 | | |
| Anthony Hamilton | 4 | | | | |

### Finals

| Quarter-finals Best of 9 frames | Quarter-finals Best of 9 frames | Semi-finals Best of 11 frames | Semi-finals Best of 11 frames | Final Best of 17 frames | Final Best of 17 frames |
| Michael White | 0 | | |
| Mark Allen | 5 | | |
| Mark Allen | 5 | Mark Allen | 4 |
| | | Neil Robertson | 6 |
| Ding Junhui | 2 | Neil Robertson | 6 |
| Neil Robertson | 5 | | | | |
| Neil Robertson | 5 | | | Neil Robertson | 5 |
| | | | | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 9 |
| Mark Selby | 1 | | | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 9 |
| Ronnie O'Sullivan | 5 | | | | |
| Ronnie O'Sullivan | 5 | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 6 | | |
| | | Joe Perry | 3 |
| Joe Perry | 5 | Joe Perry | 3 |
| Ben Woollaston | 1 | | |

## Final

Final: Best of 17 frames. Referee: Terry Camilleri Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff, Wales, 21 February 2016. :
| Neil Robertson Australia | 5–9 | Ronnie O'Sullivan England |
| Afternoon: 64–5, 78–0 (78), 33–88 (60), 76–1 (76), 12–71 (60), 66–0, 77–1 (77), 20–85 Evening: 39–94 (57), 42–78, 26–74 (67), 21–71 (70), 1–79 (61), 0–141 (141) |||
| 78 | Highest break | 141 |
| 0 | Century breaks | 1 |
| 3 | 50+ breaks | 7 |