Mark Williams made it a Far East double in Bangkok today after he captured the Thailand Masters title just a week after his triumph in the China Open. The world number one secured the £67,500 first prize with a comfortable 9-4 victory over Stephen Lee.
The Oriental double comes barely a month after Williams was beaten 10-9 by Paul Hunter in the final of the Benson and Hedges Masters at Wembley – after which the Welshman admitted he was completely demoralised after not winning a tournament in 17 months. But now it's back to winning ways for Williams, and he says he's looking forward to the World Championship which gets underway at the Crucible next month.
"I couldn't possibly expect anything like this after Wembley. To do the double out here is fantastic. It was a big relief to win in China and a load off my mind. I was beginning to think I didn't have what it takes to win any more. But once those thoughts were gone I came here under no pressure, and that's why I played so well. I was struggling at the start of the season. But since I've started to practise hard like I used to things have seemed to go my way.
"The world championship was the one I was looking forward to even before this, and I can't wait to get to the Crucible now. That's what I'm gearing up for now," he said.
Filed by Tom Grealis
