Mark Williams produced a classic efficiency to beat Ronnie O’Sullivan 10-5 within the ultimate of the Tour Championship in Manchester.
Williams, 49, who had trailed 5-3, compiled two century breaks and three half-centuries as he reeled off seven consecutive frames to triumph.
Victory secured him a twenty sixth rating title of his profession in entrance of a capability crowd.
The Welshman additionally collects the £150,000 cheque for profitable the event.
“I by no means thought I would be profitable tournaments at 49,” Williams mentioned.
“The World Championships are across the nook. He is the person to beat, however you by no means know. I will strive my finest. He performed like God for 4 frames and I used to be glad the interval got here as a result of there was no stopping him.
“He did not play as properly tonight however I believe that’s as a result of I put some strain on him and he began to overlook in direction of the tip. I might see him getting pissed off and he missed just a few he’d usually by no means miss however I am over the moon with that.”
Williams had come into the competition with an unenviable file in opposition to the Englishman, a fellow member of snooker’s famed Class of ’92, having misplaced 22 of his earlier 24 conferences in opposition to O’Sullivan.
However he has now triumphed in opposition to the entire world’s high three gamers – O’Sullivan, Judd Trump and Mark Allen – on his strategy to a second rating title of the season, having received the British Open in October, and his first success within the Tour Championship.
Whereas seven-time world champion O’Sullivan was unable to file a sixth title in a outstanding season thus far, the 48-year-old is for certain to go to the Crucible for the World Championship in two weeks because the world primary and is having fun with an unbroken spell of 734 days on the high of the rankings.
Williams, showing in his forty first rating occasion ultimate, made a robust begin with three half-centuries to steer 3-1 however noticed O’Sullivan, in his sixty fourth, make breaks of 102, 127, 59 and 121 in simply 37 minutes to go 5-3 forward.
Nevertheless, Williams, a three-time world champion himself, responded magnificently within the night, profitable a scrappy ninth body earlier than producing an array of beautiful pots in a run of 104 to stage the match.
Breaks of 54 and 99 swung the competition again into his favour as he went 7-5 forward, and he was capable of transfer in direction of the end line with additional breaks of 112 and 78.