Mark Williams admitted that at last season's British Open, at his then low standards, it was purely godly considerations that allowed him to win his 24th tournament title.
Williams played the best of his career in the 21/22 season. Williams first lost 5-6 to Neil Robertson in the masters semi-finals, then scored a record 16-100 at the World Championships and teamed up with Judd Trump for a wonderful 16:17 semi-final. Williams, however, believes that his luck at the British Open has left him without a trace.
Williams went through three deciders as he reached the final, culminating in a narrow 6-4 victory over Gary Wilson to win the British Open. Despite not playing at their best and having to dig their head to secure victory, Williams, 47, still enjoyed the experience of bringing the trophy home.
"I probably played my worst in the first few rounds, but it was a fun game, I was supposed to lose but ended up winning the title. I was in very good shape in other big tournaments and lost. I lost a lot of deciders last season, and if I had won those games, it would have been a lot better, and that shows that winning or not has little to do with your form. ”
"You can play badly and win the game, or you can lose the game because you play badly. If you have a choice, I think you have to fight for the win. Last year's British Open must have been the worst I've ever won in 24 titles, and my opponent missed out on the way to 3:1 and 3:2. I remember Zhang Jiankang giving me the opportunity to clear the stage after losing the black ball, and then I was very lucky to win the game with him. ”
"The process of winning it [the British Open] is unbelievable. My family came to the scene and I actually played well in the final. It was the best I played all week. I am very much looking forward to participating in this competition again. I haven't played as a defending champion in a long time, so it's a race I'm looking forward to. The British Open is slightly different from other competitions, with random draws being its specialty. I think more games should have their own characteristics. ”
In a 30-year career and 24 titles, Williams' success on the field far exceeded what he expected when he embarked on his professional journey. He is determined to make the most of the remainder of his career and is focused on winning more accolades.
"If someone says at the beginning of last season that I can win the title, I must feel like they're talking about it. I think the same is true this season, and if I can win the title again, it will be great. It will get more difficult over time, but I will do my best to do so. ”
"Years ago, when I started racing professionally with Ian Sargent in blackpool qualifying, I was incredibly happy to win a title. Through my hard work, I have won 24 titles including the World Championships, the British Championship and the Masters. I have no need to prove anything to anyone else and I will enjoy the rest of my game. ”