'Rubbish' Williams edges into final

13 April 2012

Mark Williams denied Ronnie O'Sullivan a fourth final appearance of the season in Bournemouth then insisted: "Knowing how I can play, that was rubbish."  

Defending champion Williams guaranteed his attendance on the final day of the Liverpool Victoria UK Championship by defeating O'Sullivan 9-4.

Victory was secured by run of five successive frames after the duo had shared the first session of what proved to be an undistinguished match.

"To me it doesn't matter how I win as long as I do," added the world champion and world number one.

"I can miss easy shots one minute and pot a lot of good ones the next. That's how it's been throughout my career.

"I know though that if I play a good, hard game, eight or nine times out of 10 I will beat Ronnie."

Williams' triumph was his ninth in succession in ranking events including victory over O'Sullivan at the Grand Prix final in Telford six weeks ago.

He now plays five-time UK champion Stephen Hendry or John Higgins for a place in Sunday's best-of-19 frames final.

"I've just lost a snooker match and I'll probably lose many more," shrugged O'Sullivan. "It's just part and parcel of being a sportsman.

"To be honest I probably went to the well once too often. I've made hard work of winning my matches this week but today I was beaten by a better player."

O'Sullivan, winner of the Champions Cup and Regal Masters titles already this season, now goes to the Far East to defend his China Open title.

"I've got a few days off so I'll go and visit my dad and spend time with the family. Then it's off to China.

"I'm not looking forward to the journey because I hate flying but I want to go out there and make a good defence of my title."

Williams could have won even more comfortably. He lost two black ball frames in the first session and finished all square at 4-4 after O'Sullivan scored 208 points without reply at the end of the afternoon.

Williams was fortunate to fluke a green at the start of the second session that enabled him to make 47 and regain his lead.

Without ever looking totally in control Williams scrapped his way to the next three frames to lead 8-4 at the final interval.

O'Sullivan should have kept the match alive by clearing up in frame 13 but he missed the final blue using the rest and Williams potted the final three colours for his fourth win of the week.

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