Williams roars past Robertson to seal Champion of Champions final spot
Williams booked his place in Sunday’s final (Credit: Matchroom Sport)
Mark Williams will play Xiao Guodong in the 2024 Champion of Champions final following a 6-2 victory over Neil Robertson on Saturday.
The three-time World champion had never previously won a match at the popular invitational event prior to this week, but is now just one more victory away from adding his name to the roll of honour.
A superb 132 total clearance was the highlight for Williams, who ended a run of seven straight defeats against two-time Champion of Champions winner Robertson.
The 49-year-old also hit breaks of 70, 66, 61 and 50 to set up a showdown with Xiao in Sunday’s showpiece at the Toughsheet Community Stadium in Bolton.
“I’m really pleased. I’m hitting the ball really good,” he told ITV Sport. “I thought I played good tonight; I thought my safety was very good. I created a lot of chances from really good safety. I potted a couple of crazy balls as well.
“Perhaps, I should give myself a bit more credit. I am playing quite well, I’m still taking it to these so-called youngsters. I’m in the final of another major tournament, so perhaps I should pat myself on the back.
“My all-round game’s a lot better now than it ever has been. I think that’s why I’m still competing with the rest of them.
“I’m just looking forward to [the final]. There’s no pressure on me. The worst that can happen to me is that I lose and I go home.”
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He ends a run of 7️⃣ straight defeats 🆚 the Thunder. 👏 #ChampOfChamps pic.twitter.com/bYK9G884NT
— Live Snooker (@Livesnooker) November 16, 2024
Despite his inferior record against Robertson in recent times, Williams was fresh from halting another seven-match losing streak in his Group Three final against reigning Crucible king Kyren Wilson on Tuesday.
The Welshman controlled the opening two frames with runs of 50 and 66 along the way. He then snatched the third on the black in fortuitous fashion; clearing after fluking the final red with his attempted snooker escape.
A break of 70 put him 4-0 to the good at the mid-session interval, though Robertson stopped the rot with 78 upon the resumption.
The Australian, who lifted this trophy in 2015 and 2019, was aiming to reach his fourth Champion of Champions final, but could only watch and admire as Williams moved to the brink of victory with a magnificent 132 total clearance.
Robertson rallied with 68, but it merely delayed the inevitable, as a contribution of 61 in the following frame was enough to get the Welshman over the line.
“I showed throughout the match if I could get the chances, I was going to take them,” Robertson added.
“A few times, I went into the pack and didn’t land on reds. I thought Mark played really, really well. I thought I played well, I just wasn’t getting the chances.
“All you can do is try and stick in there, and hope he might miss a couple of chances to let me in.
“No fault in my play at all today. I thought I played a good match and felt absolutely fantastic, but Mark played a great match, so full compliments to him.”
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