'Worst I have played in 30 years' - Mark Williams reflects on extremes of topsy-turvy season

Mark Williams has reflected on a topsy-turvy season which included British Open success, but frustration in both the Masters and the World Championship. Williams claimed his 24th ranking title at the British Open in arguably the highlight of his campaign, only to be on the wrong end of nine deciding frames that included notable defeats to Neil Robertson, at the Masters, and Judd Trump, at the World Championship. Ad/> “If I had won a few of those matches, my season could have been a whole lot better, but those are the fine margins,” said Williams in quotes published by wst.tv.

Northern Ireland OpenTop 10 shots of 2021/22: No. 9 – Allen's 'toughest' yellow in iconic Belfast 147YESTERDAY AT 09:12 “Against Judd I was 7-1 down, I struggled with the new cloth and cushions in the first session. But then I was 16-15 up.

I missed a couple of half chances when the pressure was building, that’s what happens at the Crucible. “That could end up being the best chance I’ll have of winning the title again because I was playing good stuff and I was only one frame from the final. But I wasn’t really disappointed because I was more than happy to make a fight of it from 7-1 down.

The only one that hurt was the one against Ronnie O’Sullivan at the Tour Championship because it was a good match and I should have won. “I played well in every tournament last season, apart from the British Open which was the worst I have played in 30 years as a pro,” added the world No. 8.

“I was appalling in every match, I couldn’t make a 30 break in some of them. And I won it, so work that one out! I played some of my best stuff ever for the rest of the season and won nothing. But the way I played, age 47, I can’t argue.