Mark Williams has doubted his chances of winning the UK Championship despite steamrolling fellow Welshman Daniel Wells to progress into the third round of the tournament.

Williams enjoyed a huge revival in his career last season after landing four titles – which included the 2018 World Championship – and he has managed to keep that momentum going during this campaign.

The 43-year-old won the 2018 World Open – beating David Gilbert 10-9 in the final – and he remains on course to lift the UK Championship trophy for the third time after advancing into round three.

The Welsh Wonder, who is 13.00 to defend his world title at the Crucible next year, defeated Adam Duffy 6-2 in his opening match before whitewashing Wells 6-0 in round two.

It has been a brilliant start to the tournament in York, but Williams is not thinking too far ahead and doesn’t believe he has a great chance of triumphing at the Barbican Centre.

“If someone says to me do I have a chance to win this, I would say probably not” he told BBC TV. “I’d love to win more tournaments. I am trying to win this one but if I don’t I am more than happy with my career.

“That is the best I have played since the World Open. I had two days’ practice in the club before I came up here. I have probably been in the club 10 times since the World Championship.

“I am not bothered, I am still enjoying myself. I have not missed so many tournaments in my career. At the time I said I was going to enjoy winning the World Championship and I still am.”

Williams faces either Thailand’s Noppon Saengkham or Englishman Rod Lawler in the next round.