Mark Williams of Wales clinched his first-ever Champion of Champions title by defeating China’s Xiao Guodong 10-6 in an exciting final held in Bolton, England, on Sunday.
Williams, known for his calm and composed play, took an early lead, winning the first two frames as Xiao struggled to find his footing. Capitalizing on Xiao’s errors, Williams extended his lead to 4-0 with impressive breaks of 91 and 77.
Despite the early setback, Xiao began to fight back in the sixth frame with a calculated clearance. He then scored the first century of the match in the seventh frame, narrowing the gap to 5-2. With additional breaks of 76 and a remarkable 117, Xiao edged closer to leveling the match.
However, Williams responded strongly with a century break of 112 in the tenth frame and continued to showcase his skill with a stunning 125 break, achieving a total table clearance in the 13th frame. Xiao showed resilience, trimming the margin to 8-6 after 14 frames.
In the 15th frame, after a tense safety exchange, Williams crafted a decisive break of 95. He sealed his victory in the 16th frame with another brilliant clearance, lifting the trophy and marking a significant achievement in his storied career.
“I can’t believe I am still winning tournaments at my age. Winning this event today honestly feels unbelievable,” Williams shared after his victory. “Props to Xiao, who has been a great player throughout this tournament and a great finalist.”
Reference(s):
Mark Williams defeats Xiao Guodong to win Champion of Champions title
cgtn.com
