Welsh Open: Ronnie O'Sullivan to face maiden ranking finalist Jordan Brown

O'Sullivan didn't need to be at his best to beat Mark Williams 6-1, after Brown had caused another surprise to beat Stephen Maguire by the same scoreline.

For Brown, Sunday's dream showdown will be his first ranking final. The man opposite him will go in search of a 38th win at ranking level, 28 years on from his first, having lost just two frames so far this week.

"I played solid," said O'Sullivan, who lost the opening frame before a 102 break set him on course for victory.

"The new grip is allowing me to play some really, really good shots, which is letting me gain control of the table, instead of playing mediocre stuff.

"I was able to find some good ones which put me back in control of the match. On the whole, I'm a lot harder to beat playing like this."

O'Sullivan explained that he had switched to a grip he'd used from 2011 to 2018, which had helped him improve his safety play and 'manufacture a bit more' when among the balls.

"When I do play well, I can do some damage," he added, a fact Brown will be all too aware of when he awakes for the biggest game of his life, having won his first ever ranking semi-final in excellent style.

The Northern Irishman was entitled to show nerves against Maguire, but there were no such signs as he started off with a 135 break.

Though Maguire levelled in a tight second frame, that would be his last contribution to the match score as Brown tok five frames in a row, bagging a second century break along the way.

Brown said: "Three years ago I was working in a petrol station and serving customers, getting up at 5.30 and 6.30 every morning. It is crazy to think of the journey that I have had. To be in a ranking tournament final is just incredible.

"It was very important to stamp my authority early. I showed Stevie that I was ready to play. The 135 break just settled me right down. I was pleased to carry it right through the whole match.

"I’ve been putting the hours in on the practice table. Maybe I was just going in to pot balls in the club before. It is more intense now and I am treating it more like a match occasion. That means something. It is easy to pot balls, but there is a lot more to it than that.

"All of the sacrifices and hard work have led me to this moment. It is very satisfying because I’ve always had the inner belief to compete with the top players."