Martin O'Donnell dumps Luca Brecel out to reach Welsh Open semi-finals

Martin O'Donnell produced the shock of the Welsh Open quarter-finals as he beat reigning world champion Luca Brecel in Llandudno.

The 37-year-old was in fine form as he reached the second ranking event semi-final of his career with a well-deserved 5-3 win over world number 4 Brecel.

He sealed his spot in the final four with a win on the black in the eighth frame and set up a semi-final against fellow Englishman Elliot Slessor.

World number 50 Slessor ended the hopes of a home winner by seeing off Dominic Dale 5-3 earlier on Friday at the Venue Cymru.

John Higgins also progressed with a 5-2 victory over Mark Allen, with the Scot facing Gary Wilson on Saturday after he cruised past Anthony McGill without dropping a frame.

O’Donnell, though, was the headline maker as he dispatched of Brecel, the Belgian having been crowned world champion last May.

Ranked 76 in the world, O’Donnell’s best major event display before this week was a quarter-final appearance at the English Open in October – where he was beaten by Higgins – a potential fellow finalist in Wales.