MARK WILLIAMS emerged victorious over Ronnie O’Sullivan in the Battle of the Baize Oldies and humorously remarked: Not too shabby for a part-timer.
The 49-year-old Willo clinched the £150,000 Tour Championship title after a commanding 10-5 win against the 48-year-old Rocket at Manchester Central.
Mark Williams secured the Tour Championship title by defeating Ronnie O’Sullivan. Credit: ITV
Williams playfully quipped about his ‘part-time player’ status. Credit: Getty
The combined age of the finalists, totaling 97, sets a record as the oldest in a World Snooker Tour event. Additionally, the Welshman, who turned pro in 1992, now stands as the second-oldest winner of a ranking title, with only the iconic Ray Reardon achieving victory at an older age of 50 years and 14 days during the 1982 Professional Players Tournament.
Despite battling jetlag from his recent Chinese pool engagements in the Far East, Williams expressed astonishment at defeating the top three players in the world—O’Sullivan, Judd Trump, and Mark Allen—during the week.
Reflecting on his unexpected triumph, the father of three remarked, “Not bad. I played well all day. I took it to him, I played well. I cannot believe I won. It’s not bad for a part-timer. I am a part-timer pool player now! I never thought I would win tournaments at the age of 49. Who knows, the world championships are round the corner? I will try my best. This is up there in my career. As Ronnie said, I think I am a better all-round player now. Considering I don’t practice that much. But I always try my absolute nuts.”
Williams further acknowledged the support from the crowd and the presence of his family during the intense final match against O’Sullivan.
With the Crucible action looming two weeks ahead, the showdown between these two snooker legends captivated the audience with five centuries, including a remarkable 127-point break by O’Sullivan in frame six.
Following a gripping afternoon session where O’Sullivan initially trailed 3-1 but rallied to lead 5-3, Williams staged a remarkable comeback by winning SEVEN consecutive frames in the evening, showcasing a masterclass performance.
Despite his defeat, O’Sullivan displayed sportsmanship by acknowledging Williams’ consistent excellence in recent years. He praised Williams’ talent and strength, stating, “If you don’t keep playing top-level snooker against him, he’ll just eat you alive. I think I did well to get five frames.”
In response, O’Sullivan also commended Williams’ skill and dedication to snooker, suggesting that if Williams devoted his full attention to the sport, he could potentially ascend to the number one ranking.
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