Mark Williams has continued his return to form this season as he has booked his place in the final of the Dafabet Northern Ireland Open following his 6-2 victory over Elliot Slessor in the semi-finals on Saturday. The two-time world champion is looking to win his first ranking event title on UK soil since claiming the LG Cup 14 years ago and his run to the final has continued his renaissance over recent months.
The Welshman has reached at least the quarter-finals of six ranking tournaments already this term, while he also won the Six-red World Championship in September. Williams’ return to form has been made all the more remarkable as he considered retiring earlier this year, before his wife convinced him to continue playing and he admits he is delighted with his decision. “I nearly gave up playing this year. It was only my wife that talked me around. I’m glad she talked me out of it,” Williams was quoted as saying on the World Snooker website. “I’m enjoying it. I haven’t been in a final for a while so I am going to enjoy tomorrow. I’m still trying, John Higgins and Ronnie O’Sullivan are still winning tournaments. They are still winning tournaments and I am doing alright this season so you never know.”
Williams’ reward for reaching Sunday’s final at Belfast’s Waterfront Hall is a showdown with Chinese teenager Yan Bingtao, a man 25 years his junior. The 18-time ranking event winner won his most recent meeting with Bingtao at the European Masters last month, and he is priced at 7/10 to claim overall glory on Sunday, while his younger rival is available at 23/20.
Dafabet Northern Ireland Open odds available at Dafabet.