Stephen Hendry heaped praise onto Mark Williams after his Champion of Champions win (Image: Getty)
called his ‘hero’ after watching the Welshman win the Champion of Champions title on Sunday night.
Williams defeated and en route to the final, where he dispatched Xiao Guodong 10-6 to clinch a glorious win and the £150,000 jackpot in Bolton. It was also the first-ever Champion of Champions triumph for Williams, who will turn 50 in March, more than three decades after the start of his professional snooker career.
“He’s my hero,” seven-time world champion Hendry said of his close friend Williams on ITV4. “I have to say it. He is my best mate on tour as well, but what he’s doing at almost 50, how he’s playing and the way he plays with not a care in the world, it’s just incredible, I love it.”
Williams sits sixth in the world rankings and the veteran is reaping the benefits of a new cue, which Hendry advised against before the Champion of Champions tournament. The Welsh Potting Machine took a playful dig at his long-time pal after that same cue propelled him to victory.
“I had a new cue, which I knew I was going to struggle with, I knew I was going to lose two or three first-rounders,” said Williams. “I wasn’t worried about that because I really like my new cue and I knew it would come good.
“I’ve been getting slated by a lot of people for changing cues, I’m not going to mention any names Hendry, but it’s starting to come alright now and all of a sudden the cue is the best thing I’ve ever had in my hands.”
Mark Williams added another £150,000 to his career earnings on Sunday night (Image: Getty)
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Despite Hendry’s admiration for Williams, it is Ronnie O’Sullivan who is aiming to surpass him with an eighth World Snooker Championship next year. The Rocket remains the biggest draw in snooker, but he was undone by Xiao and outshone by Williams in Bolton.
And the Welshman is not planning to slow down any time soon, given that he can still cut it at the very top of the sport.
“I’m not retiring, I’m going to keep going until I fall off the tour, whenever that is,” he explained. “If I’m coming out in my zimmer frame it doesn’t matter, just carry on. I’m enjoying it.
“Winning is obviously good but if I lose I don’t really worry about it, just try your best, it’s all you can do. I’ve got nothing to prove anymore. I’m just going to enjoy it.”