Mark Allen’s eight-word message to Mark Williams speaks volumes about snooker star

Mark Williams claimed his archetypal Champion of Champions rubric with triumph implicit Xiao Guodong connected Sunday - and was hailed arsenic 1 of snooker's all-time greats by Mark Allen

Mark Williams has been lauded by Mark Allen aft clinching his archetypal Champion of Champions title.

Just 5 months shy of his 50th birthday, the Welsh wizard demonstrated he's far from acceptable to discontinue as helium triumphed implicit Xiao Guodong successful Bolton, pocketing a chill £150,000 prize.

Williams, evergreen connected the greenish baize, stormed into a 5-0 pb successful the archetypal league but saw his pb reduced to 5-4 arsenic his Chinese hostile rallied. However, the seasoned pro claimed 5 of the adjacent 7 frames to unafraid a 10-6 triumph and assistance the trophy for the archetypal clip successful his illustrious career.

Post-match, Williams was showered with accolades from the snooker fraternity, including World No. 3 Allen, who had been ousted from the tourney by Xiao.

Reacting to the last connected X, Allen posted: "Ridiculous again from Mark Williams to beryllium inactive beryllium 1 of the precise champion successful the crippled astatine his property is not normal. One of the all-time greats for sure. Enjoy your triumph kebab"

In effect to the post, Williams replied: "ty (Thank you) Pistol." After defeating Xiao with breaks of 80, 91, 95 and 104 successful the final, the Welshman confessed that he's not contemplating hanging up his cue conscionable yet, reports the Express.

"I'm not going to retire. I'm enjoying it," helium stated. "What a feeling. I can't truly judge it. I'm going to support playing until I autumn disconnected the tour. Whenever that is.

"Winning is evidently good. I don't interest astir it if I lose. Just effort your best, that's each you tin do. The older I'm getting, the much enactment I'm getting. Perhaps they ever enactment the underdog.

"It's a bully feeling, and I deliberation that is helping maine play better, too, erstwhile you person astir of the assemblage cheering for you. I truly similar my caller cue.

"I was getting slated for changing cues. It's starting to travel bully now, and the caller cue is the champion happening I've ever had successful my hands."

After defeating the reigning world champion Kyren Wilson and the on-form Neil Robertson connected his mode to scooping the title, Williams marked different accomplishment during a play which has besides taken him to the Saudi Arabia Masters final. Despite losing narrowly by 10-9 to Judd Trump there, helium inactive pocketed £200,000.