"I feel more confident in my mind"
India’s Ishpreet Singh Chadha pulled off a stunning victory by knocking out defending champion Gary Wilson at the Welsh Open.
The 28-year-old snooker player trailed 3-2 but held his nerve to win the final two frames and secure a 4-3 victory at Venue Cymru in Llandudno.
This marks his third win of the tournament, having come through two qualifying rounds.
The victory takes Chadha into the last 32 and boosts his chances of retaining his status on the World Snooker Tour.
In his first two-year stint, Chadha has broken into the top 64 in the provisional end-of-season rankings.
With no points to defend from two years ago, his prospects look promising.
Speaking about one of his career-best performances, Chadha said:
“It felt amazing playing in Wales, in Llandudno – it’s an amazing city.
“I think I was on it from the first get-go, and he was a little bit off.
“But it was a tough match to win, especially against a three-times Home Nations series champion.”
Reflecting on his improvement this season, Chadha credited his mental toughness and technical work with his coach in India during the break between seasons.
He said: “My coach back in India has helped me a lot during the off-season. As I’m playing better, I feel more confident in my mind as well.”
Ishpreet Singh Chadha has received constant support from his family and friends, with his mother playing a crucial role in his success.
She has been a regular presence at events, something Chadha deeply values.
Chadha stated: “If there’s just one person in the crowd, I want it to be my mum.
“I don’t care if nobody is watching, if nobody is cheering for me, I just need my mum in the audience and I’m good to go.”
“It’s just such a big boost for me when playing in events that she is with me, and I feel very safe with her.”
Wilson, the current world number 14, admitted after the match that he had not been feeling well.
He had fought back from 2-1 down to lead 3-2, but Chadha dominated the final two frames.
Chadha added: “It feels great. He’s always a tough player to beat. I’m just happy to get through.”
Ishpreet Singh Chadha will next face home favourite Jackson Page, who defeated Jimmy Robertson 4-2 in his first-round match.
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