Mark Williams On The Verge Of Masters History After Demolition Of Lisowski

The Welshman will become the oldest champ if he beats Judd Trump on Sunday
18:31, 14 Jan 2023

Mark Williams roared into his first Masters final for 20 years on Saturday to give himself a great chance of becoming the famous tournament’s oldest winner. 

Veteran two-time champion Williams, 47, whitewashed Jack Lisowski 6-0 at Alexandra Palace to reach a first showpiece at the prestigious invitation event since his 2003 success. 

In that final he comfortably beat Stephen Hendry, and it is also the 25th anniversary of the iconic re-spotted black 10-9 final victory over the Scot. But after a masterclass of matchplay and tactical nous that tied the usually lightning-fast Lisowski up in knots, Williams is into a fourth Masters final.

And if he wins on Sunday to lift the Paul Hunter Trophy and pocket the £250,000 first prize, he will demolish the previous ‘oldest’ record set by Stuart Bingham at 43 and 243 days in 2020. 

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Williams, who had already knocked old rival Ronnie O’Sullivan out in the quarter-finals, was joined by youngest son Joel in the arena at the end. Mark said afterwards: “It has been a long time since I have been in a Masters final. It has got to be up there with my best achievements, getting back there. 

“Jack struggled a bit today but I am over the moon, especially after last year when I almost threw away the semi-final against Neil Robertson with that same chance of a final place. I had one foot in the final 12 months ago, and ended up with about three feet out of it. So to come back 12 months later and get to the final has to be one of my best wins for a long time. 

“I don’t get to finals as often as I used to, and I think it only gets harder the older you get. There were no century breaks for me, but the 50s and 60s when it matters are as important. I can’t pot or outscore Jack, so I have to try to outwit and out-safety him and win that way.

“I don’t practise a lot, sometimes it is only four hours a week. But I practice enough and I work hard when I do. And I practice more at the tournament venues than at home. 

“To play as well as I when I won my third world title in 2018, I am not prepared to do that anymore. My eyes are going, I’m not going to get any better…I’ll just do what I can. I am delighted with my career. The titles I have won have been against Hendry, Higgins and O’Sullivan, and that takes some doing.” 

LISOWSKI COULDN'T BUY A FRAME AGAINST THE RED-HOT WILLIAMS
LISOWSKI COULDN'T BUY A FRAME AGAINST THE RED-HOT WILLIAMS

Lisowski admitted: “It was a very tough afternoon. Mark played some great stuff today. Early on whenever he was missing it felt like it was left awkward for me. And then when I was missing I was sticking him straight up. I didn’t get any of the nudges, but that might have got me a frame. He was great today, and much better than me. 

“I had no feel and he shut me out, but that’s what these top players can do. I’ll watch it back, dust myself off and there’s another event next week so straight back on the horse. 

“He still looks really good. I had some amazing support out there, but it just wasn’t meant to be, and I’ll be back next year.” 

Williams raced into an early lead and never looked back. He was soon 3-0 up, helped by breaks of 52 and 74, and then made it 4-0 at the interval to give the shell-shocked Lisowski a chance to regroup after falling into almost every trap laid by his opponent. But there was no respite. A break of 68 put Williams on the brink, and he soon wrapped things up. 

Onlooking six-time Masters champion and BBC pundit Stephen Hendry said: “It was a masterful performance from Mark Williams. Jack has been completely outplayed in this semi-final. Mark has made the match almost dull to watch it has been so one-sided, because he has been so impressive in his match-play.” 

Three-time Masters winner Steve Davis said: “He is a bit of a praying mantis, Mark, crossed with a vampire - he just sucks the life out of his opponent.”

Williams will take on the 2019 Masters winner and world number four Judd Trump in Sunday’s final. The Juddernaut thrashed another former champion Stuart Bingham 6-1 on Saturday night to set up a repeat of last year’s epic World Championship semi-final against the Welshman, which he won 17-16. 

It is a second final of the season for the 33-year-old Trump, who also got to the showpiece of the Champion of Champions but lost to Ronnie O’Sullivan. 

Trump, who could easily have gone out to Ryan Day in the first round and won his first two matches 6-5, said: “It was a struggle at the end, and all a bit scrappy, but I got over the line. 

“It has been like that me for me so far this year but I hope I am saving my best form for the final and building some momentum.” 

*18+ | BeGambleAware | Odds Subject to Change

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