A lifelong Birmingham City fan, Tom relocated to Germany for five years after graduating from university, where his interest in the Bundesliga developed. He began writing about and betting on German football for FST in 2016. He's also an avid fantasy football player and closely follows the Premier League and European competitions.
What a start to May from our analysts, landing a 20/1 outright selection on Mark Williams to win the 2018 Betfred World Snooker Championship! It was a long tournament for “The Welsh Potting Machine”, playing his first match back in April…
Here’s how it all unfolded:
20/1 Snooker Selection lands as Mark Williams wins the 2018 Snooker World Championship!!
John Higgins also finished runner up at 11/1!
GET IN MARK!!
(18+) pic.twitter.com/U0Pxa73ukH
— Football Super Tips (@FootySuperTips) May 7, 2018
Mark Williams 10-5 Jimmy Robertson
An ideal opening round for Williams, having never lost to Robertson in six previous match ups and the form book held up here as Williams recorded a routine victory. A counter clearance of 63 to win the first frame on the black was a demonstration of the composure shown all season by Williams as he opened up an early lead. His control of the match was never really threatened as he completed three century breaks (140,102 & 100) to take the match.
Mark Williams 13-7 Robert Milkins
Once again Williams got off to a flying start winning the first two frames with contributions of 65 & 87. However Milkins showed resistance to level the match at 2-2 before the interval. The match then got a bit scrappy with some close frames but it was Williams once again who got the better of it staying ahead the rest of the way. He accelerated to the winning line with six 50+ breaks in the final eight frames including another century (101) to get through to the quarter final.
Mark Williams 13-8 Ali Carter
Firing out of the blocks with a 135 break Williams excellent form continued, quickly followed up with a 60 break in the next however Ronnie O’Sullivan’s conqueror hit back with a quality 63 clearance to take the second frame on the black. Carter then hit a superb break of 126 in the next to take the lead but Williams as ever was not fazed as he took the control of the match to book his place in the semi-final by hitting three centuries (114,113 & 113) on route to victory.
Mark Williams 17-15 Barry Hawkins
This was a difficult test against another one of our original selections Hawkins who brought his A-game for crucible again. It was the Hawk who got off to the better start with a 129 break in the first. Hawkins was playing really well opening up a 5-2 lead before Williams levelled the match at 5-5 with breaks of 110 & 80.
Both players maintained a high standard with Hawkins staying ahead or level for most of the match despite Williams hitting his eighth century of the tournament in frame 23. In fact, the Welshman’s timing was crucial as the only time he took the lead in the match was near the end to go 16-15 ahead, this was followed up with a dramatic frame that was settled on the black to see Williams reach the final for the first time since 2003!
Mark Williams 18-16 John Higgins
An epic match against the only opponent Williams faced who he had a losing head-to-head record against. Higgins the pre match favourite and another one of our outright selections did not start well as Williams took the opening four frames without hitting top gear. The lead was then extended to 5-0 with a break of 119 before Higgins finally got on the score board taking the next three frames to trail 5-3 at the end of the first morning session. Williams edged a close afternoon session with an 118 break being his highlight to leave the match set up with a 10-7 over night lead.
The Welsh potting machine was in full effect at the resumption of play with five 50+ breaks in four frames to bring up a 14-7 lead in what appeared at this point to be a cruise to the title. After the interval the momentum shifted with Higgins taking eight out of the next nine frames to level at 15-15 with some trademark Higgins pressure clearances that were almost mesmerizing.
Many players may have crumbled by the onslaught but Williams as cool as ever regained control to take the next two frames which included his twelfth century of the tournament (100). The match then looked all over as Williams was on a 63 break before a shock miss on the pink for the match left Higgins to counter once again with another tremendous reply of 65 to win it on the black. Williams was not to be denied though and a 69 break in the next was enough to see him win his third world championship crown all by the 18-16 score-line.
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