Mark Williams added one other chapter of success to what has been an excellent profession by profitable the 2024 Champion of Champions on Sunday in Bolton.
The Welshman produced a robust efficiency to see off the problem of Xiao Guodong with a 10-6 victory on the Toughsheet Neighborhood Stadium.
In what was his first look in a Champion of Champions last, Williams bought off to the right begin by profitable the opening 5 frames.
Xiao was in some methods a shock finalist, however by the tip of the primary session he started to show the improbable kind that has taken him to a top-16 rating for the primary time.
The 35 year-old from China, who earned an invite to this occasion by profitable a maiden rating title on the current Wuhan Open, beat Ronnie O’Sullivan, Mark Selby, and Mark Allen to get this far within the match.
Breaks of 55, 101, and 117 helped him win the final 4 frames of the afternoon session to shut to inside simply considered one of his esteemed opponent.
However Williams responded as all nice champions do, by shutting the door with a wonderful century break of his personal to open the night bout of play.
A run of 62 within the following body restored the three-frame benefit, and though Xiao twice decreased the arrears to 2 once more, the comeback problem finally proved to be insurmountable.
At 8-6 in entrance, contributions of 95 and 67 from Williams noticed him full the victory and pocket the £150,000 prime prize.
The world quantity six turns 50 in about 4 months however reveals only a few indicators that his presence on the pinnacle of the game is nearing its climax.
As a three-time world champion, former world primary, and the winner of greater than two-dozen rating occasions, Williams had already lengthy established himself as an all-time nice.
But in 2024, the participant often called the Welsh Potting Machine has added two extra prestigious titles to his assortment – this Champion of Champions triumph made doable by means of his success on the Tour Championship in April.
After beating ladies’s world champion Bai Yulu in his opening fixture of the week, Williams ousted reigning Crucible champion Kyren Wilson after which Neil Robertson to succeed in the title-deciding contest.
The glory comes a couple of months after he narrowly missed out on incomes a record-equalling £500,000 payday when he got here up agonisingly brief within the last of the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters.
It was not the conclusion to the match that Xiao would have needed, however it was one other terrific week as he turned the primary participant from China to function in a Champion of Champions last.
The world quantity 16 has been essentially the most improved participant on the circuit this season and can deservedly head to the upcoming UK Championship in York with confidence brimming as one of many seeds.
Xiao would possibly symbolize a darkish horse to go far on the Barbican Centre as nicely, whereas Williams has proved that he nonetheless has time to problem for the sport’s greatest trophies.
“I can’t imagine it,” Mark Williams instructed ITV. “I’m stood right here nearly to select that trophy up and I don’t know the way I’m doing it actually, however I’m sticking in there.”
“The interval got here on the excellent time for me as a result of if it carried on, he was in all probability going to run away with it.
“I’m misplaced for phrases actually. I’m over the moon.”
2024 Champion of Champions draw
Group 1
Mark Allen 4-2 Igor Figueiredo
Gary Wilson 2-4 Jak Jones
Group 1 Ultimate
Mark Allen 6-4 Jak Jones
Group 2
Judd Trump 4-0 Ding Junhui
Ali Carter 3-4 Neil Robertson
Group 2 Ultimate
Judd Trump 4-6 Neil Robertson
Group 3
Kyren Wilson 4-1 Luca Brecel
Mark Williams 4-1 Bai Yulu
Group 3 Ultimate
Kyren Wilson 5-6 Mark Williams
Group 4
Ronnie O’Sullivan 3-4 Xiao Guodong
Mark Selby 4-2 Shaun Murphy
Group 4 Ultimate
Xiao Guodong 6-5 Mark Selby
Semi-Finals
Mark Allen 3-6 Xiao Guodong
Mark Williams 6-2 Neil Robertson
Ultimate
Xiao Guodong 6-10 Mark Williams
Click on right here to view the total up to date draw
(snooker.org)
Featured photograph credit score: WST