Williams claims China Open victory
Sunday, 4 April 2010 17:05Former world champion Mark Williams beat local hero Ding Junhui to win the China Open tournament on Sunday and disappoint millions of Chinese snooker fans.
Welshman Williams won the title for the third time with a 10-6 victory in the best-of-19 frame final in a little under four hours at the Beijing University Students Gymnasium.
Ding, who celebrated his 23rd birthday on Thursday, was chasing a second title in the event after his 2005 victory, which was watched by a television audience of 110 million according to Chinese state media.
Snooker has been targeting growth in China's huge market to help the sport break out of its British heartland and the country now hosts two of the six ranking tournaments each season.
Williams savoured his victory, saying: 'I'm over the moon to win again.
'It's been a long time coming but I've kept working hard and I felt that in the end the results would come.'
After winning at the Crucible in 2000 and 2003, Williams has now joined the queue of serious contenders for world title glory.
He said: 'My safety, my long pots and my break-building have been good and I hope I can take this form now into the World Championship. My biggest goal for the season was to make sure of my top-16 place so it's great to have that as well as a title before Sheffield.
'Ding played well today and if he keeps that up he will be one of the favourites. He is more than capable, and after Ronnie O'Sullivan and John Higgins he is the man to beat.
'At the end of the match tonight we were asking each other who we are playing in the first round at the Crucible, and I said, "Thank God I don't have to play you".'
Ding praised Williams' performance and was not too downhearted despite letting his early lead ebb away.
He said: 'I played very well and didn't make many mistakes. But Mark dominated a lot of frames in the second session, so I had no chance.'
