Mark’s come a long way since bunking up with fellow pro
Golden Oldie Mark Williams is relishing heading to this week’s British Open as the defending champion.
The three-time winner of the World crown rolled back the years to pocket his 24th ranking title last season, banking the tasty £100,000 top prize in the process.
And the 47-year-old admitted: “It has been a long time since I’ve played an event as defending champion, so this is one I will be looking forward to.
“It was unbelievable to win it. The family came up to Leicester, and I actually played alright in the final. It was the best I had played all week.
“If someone said I’d win a competition at the start of last season, I’d have bit their hand off.
“But it must have been the worst I’ve ever played to win any of my 24 titles.
“You can play dreadful and win an event, and play out of your skin and lose. It just goes to show it’s all about getting the win.”
The fire still burns brightly for the veteran after seeing his fellow Class of 92 great, Ronnie O’sullivan, defy Father Time by lift his record-equalling seventh World title in May.
Four-time Crucible King John Higgins, the other member of the famous trio, lost in five major finals last season.
“It is going to get harder for us all as the years go by,” said Williams.
“But one thing I am good at is giving 100%. I will always be out there, trying my hardest to get the win.
“It will be the same this season, and if I could get my hands on silverware again, that would be brilliant.
“I’d have been happy with one title all those years ago, when I was starting off sharing a double bed with Ian Sargeant at the qualifiers in Blackpool.
“To come through and win 24
events, including a few Worlds, a couple of UK Championships and the Masters. I have nothing left to prove to anybody.
“I will enjoy whatever time I have left playing.”
Four-time world champion Higgins takes on Andy Hicks, the world No. 66, in a held-over qualifier tomorrow, and will play China’s Yuan Sijun in the First Round proper, should he win, on Tuesday.
Fellow Scots Graeme Dott, Fraser Patrick, Ross Muir and Dean Young are also in action at the next major ranking event, held at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes.
Former world champion Dott clashes with Belgium potter Luca Brecel tomorrow, while fellow Glaswegian, Patrick, faces
Thailand’s Noppon Saengkham on Wednesday.
Compatriot Muir meets China’s Chen Zifan, and amateur Young will face either world No. 2, Judd Trump or Si Jiahui, both on Wednesday.
■ RONNIE O’sullivan and Reanne Evans kept their World Mixed Doubles hopes alive with a welcome 3-1 victory against Neil Robertson and Mink Nutcharat.
The tournament favourites suffered a shaky start with a 3-1 defeat to Judd Trump and Ng On Yee.
Four-time world champion, Mark Selby, slammed in a fine 134 clearance as he and Rebecca Kenna kicked off their title charge with an impressive 3-1 win over Robertson and Mink.