Gibraltar Open 2022 - Kyren Wilson beats Ricky Walden to reach final and confirms John Higgins as European Series winner

Kyren Wilson’s red-hot form at the Gibraltar Open continued, as he moved into the final courtesy of a 4-3 win over Ricky Walden. The victory keeps Wilson's hopes of a first title of the season alive, but it also makes John Higgins £150,000 richer as Walden’s defeat confirmed the Scot as the winner of the European Series bonus. Ad/> There will only be partial celebrations in the Higgins household, as he will miss out on a spot at next week’s Tour Championship if Wilson beats Robert Milkins in the final later on Saturday.

Gibraltar OpenLaboured Trump keeps Gibraltar Open hat-trick hopes alive with win over Lam20 HOURS AGO Wilson came into the match in sizzling form, after dropping only two frames on the run to the semi-finals, and he opened the meeting with Walden with a sizzling long red. He did not take full advantage and Walden responded superbly with a break of 78 to take the opener. Walden had a decent chance in the second, but a poor positional shot halted him in his tracks and a subsequent sloppy safety handed an opening to Wilson.

A brilliant, long red got him rolling and he swept up a break of 77 to draw level. With plenty riding on the contest for both players, nerves crept in early on. Walden looked good in the third, but sloppily ran out of position and fouled a blue when intending to play safe.

Wilson did not take the first chance, but Walden put the bank on a tough shot with the rest — it stayed out — and the world No. 5 powered through a break of 60 to take the lead. Bingham wraps up win with maximum 147 Wild fluke helps Jimmy White take frame As well as huge talent, luck can have a huge bearing at the top level.