Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Williams is on Mark at long last
FAMILY man Mark Williams’ 19th ranking title was just what the doctor ordered for sick wife Jo.
The Welshman’s wife was in and out of hospital all week with meningitis.
Two-time world champion Williams was almost forced to withdraw from the Northern Ireland Open final at the 11th hour after she was rushed back to hospital on Saturday night.
But Williams stayed in Belfast and gave her something to cheer about from her sick bed, beating Yan Bingtao 9-8 last night to end a six-year wait for a ranking title.
Williams used all of his experience to prevail in the fitting decider at the Waterfront Hall and with tears in his eyes said: “I’ll go home now, speak to the hospital, speak to the missus and see how she is and we’ll go from there.
“It’s been a tough week and I can’t wait to get home now.
“It’s my first tournament win since 2011 so I’m over the moon. I’ve played well all season and what can I say it’s number 19.
“I chucked everything at him and he didn’t even look like missing.
“He’s only 17 and he’s this good, I just wonder what he’ll be like in a year’s time. I’m just glad by the time he’s 25, I’ll be retired.”
Williams only led when it mattered most to clinch the £70,000 top prize after breaks of 104, 62, 90 and 58.
China’s Bingtao was vying to become snooker’s youngest ever ranking winner – superseding Ronnie O’sullivan’s longstanding record.
Prodigy Bingtao would have knocked 75 days off the Rocket’s feat.