Tour Championship: Mark Williams delivers vintage display to beat Ronnie O'Sullivan 10-5 in final

Ronnie O'Sullivan

Mark Williams delivered an outstanding performance to defeat Ronnie O'Sullivan 10-5 in the Tour Championship final held in Manchester. The event was reminiscent of past eras.

Williams, who is 49 years old, was losing 5-3 during the game. However, he managed to score two century breaks and three half-centuries, resulting in winning seven consecutive frames and ultimately, the game.

He clinched his 26th ranking title of his career in front of a full-house, thereby securing a win.

The individual from Wales obtains the prize money of £150,000 as a result of triumphing in the competition.

"At 49, winning tournaments was something I never anticipated," Williams expressed.

The World Championships are approaching soon. He's the top contender, but anything can happen. I will do everything in my power. He performed outstandingly for four rounds, and I was relieved when the break arrived because he appeared unstoppable.

"He didn't perform up to the mark today, but it could be because I added stress to him, which made him miss his shots in the later part of the game. I observed him getting irritated, and he missed some of the most comfortable shots that he usually wouldn't miss. Nonetheless, I'm ecstatic about the outcome."

Williams had a poor history against the Englishman, who is also a part of snooker's famous Class of '92. Williams had lost 22 out of the 24 times they had previously competed against each other.

However, he has achieved victory over all three of the highest-ranking players in the world - O'Sullivan, Judd Trump, and Mark Allen - while winning his second ranking title of the season. His previous win was at the British Open in October, and this is the first time he's triumphed at the Tour Championship.

Although Ronnie O'Sullivan, who has won the world championship seven times, was not able to win his sixth title this season, it has still been an impressive season for him. He currently holds the number one ranking in the world and has been there for an impressive 734 consecutive days. In just two weeks, he will be heading to the Crucible for the World Championship.

In his 41st ranking event final, Williams began strongly by scoring three half-centuries and taking a 3-1 lead. However, O'Sullivan, who was playing in his 64th final, quickly responded by making four impressive breaks of 102, 127, 59, and 121 within just 37 minutes, allowing him to take a commanding 5-3 lead.

But Williams, who has won the world championship three times, played impressively later on by winning the ninth frame, which was not a smooth victory. He then showcased his amazing skills by making a series of impressive shots, leading to a score of 104 and tying the match.

After scoring breaks of 54 and 99, he gained an advantage in the contest by taking a lead of 7-5. He continued to extend his lead by scoring more breaks of 112 and 78, bringing him closer to the victorious finish line.

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