Welsh Open 2023: Jak Jones stuns Mark Williams with tense victory on a decider in battle of the Welsh

Jak Jones stunned Mark Williams with an impressive 4-3 victory over the three-time world champion at the Welsh Open. There was never more than one frame to separate the pair in Llandudno and it was the underdog who ultimately came out on top in a decider. Ad Jones, who has been on and off the tour since 2010, will play Julien Leclercq or Jordan Brown in the last 32 on Wednesday night.

Welsh Open'Try and get some exercise in' — Williams believes lifestyle changes required to improve form40 MINUTES AGO Williams was on top in a long opening frame as three separate breaks saw him take the early advantage, before he missed two reds to the right middle pocket in the next frame which proved costly. Despite the lack of table time, Jones capitalised on the errors with a great clearance of 91 to make it 1-1. A big safety error from Jones gave Williams an easy starter in the third frame and he hit back with a stunning clearance of his own, a 122 where he never looked like missing.

There were flashbacks to Ronnie O’Sullivan’s dramatic win earlier on Tuesday afternoon, when Williams — like O'Sullivan had been in his match — was warned about the three-miss rule in frame four. Unlike O’Sullivan, Williams hit a red and fluked another one in. He was not left on a colour though so couldn’t take advantage.

Later in the frame, Jones knocked in a stunning long red which saw him then compile a frame-winning break of 52 to make it all square again. It looked like Williams was going to get back in front, but missed a red to the bottom right pocket on 47, then jawed a blue. Just like he had did in the previous frame, Jones stepped in and made a break of 66 which left Williams requiring a snooker.