Mark Williams eyeing first Welsh triumph for 27 years despite ‘going blind’

Mark Williams was the last Welshman to win the Welsh Open and he is hoping to be the next, 27 years on.

All the way back in 1999, Williams beat Stephen Hendry in the final in Cardiff to win the Welsh Open for a second time.

It was an incredible run to the title from Williams, which also dates the triumph, as he beat Neal Foulds, Chris Small, Alan McManus, Steve Davis and Ronnie O’Sullivan before downing Hendry 9-8 in the final.

Hendry won a rematch in the 2003 final, but that was the last time a Welshman made it to the final of the Welsh Open.

Now 50 years old, Williams is still going strong and is into the last 16 of the tournament after a 4-1 win over Martin O’Donnell on Wednesday afternoon.

He would love to see a Welsh triumph again, whether it is him or either of the other remaining local heroes: Jackson Page, Jak Jones.

‘I’m still in, last 32 is it? Oh last 16! First I’ve done for a while,’ a briefly confused Williams told BBC Wales. ‘I’m potting a couple.

‘It’s a great place to play and hopefully, if it’s not me, then one of the Welsh boys can get to the final because that’s all we’re missing in this tournament. A Welshman picking the trophy up.’

Ranked number four in the world and with the Xi’an Grand Prix to his name this season, Williams is in contention for the title in Llandudno this week.

‘Possibly,’ he said of his chances. ‘I never would have thought I would have won in Xi’an, in China, that was a tough one to win.

‘If I can get on a run, I can start playing some good stuff. I either seem to go on a little bit of a run or lose first round and go back on the golf course.’

On his near three decade wait for another Welsh Open title, he said: ‘I can’t believe it, it’s so long ago. I had a bit of hair then, now I’m old and going blind.’

Williams was close to getting lens replacement surgery in the summer as his eyesight has been deteriorating in recent years, but after a run to the World Championship final he put the operation off.

With results and performances still good, he continues to kick the can down the road on the eye op.

‘They’re the same. They’re getting worse,’ he said at the recent Players Championship. ‘They’re getting more blurry every year, but I’m still in the same position. While I’m still in the top of the rankings, what do I do? Do I take the chance and have them done or not? I don’t know.

‘They keep phoning me every other week to say, you know, I’m top of the priority list to get it done. If I phone them and say, can I get in? I probably can get it done within a week.’

The eyes will be tested against Barry Hawkins in the last 16 on Thursday atVenue Cymru, which Williams has hailed as one of the best places to play on tour.

‘The crowd is fantastic, great arena,’ he said. ‘It’s one of the best venues we play in and it’s always supported. Even 10 o’clock in the morning there’s 400-500 people in here, you don’t get that in many comps.’

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