Mark Williams wins first Champion of Champions title by beating Xiao Guodong

Mark Williams held off a fightback from Xiao Guodong to claim his first Champion of Champions title with a 10-6 victory in the final in Bolton.

Welshman Williams, 49, surged into a 5-0 lead before China’s Xiao reeled off four frames in a row, including two century breaks.

After the interval, three-time world champion Williams compiled breaks of 104, 62, 80, 95 and 67 to seal the win, with Xiao only able to win the 12th and 14th frames.

“I can’t believe it,” Williams told ITV. “I’m stood here just about to pick that trophy up and I don’t know how I’m doing it really, but I’m sticking in there.

“The interval came at the perfect time for me because if it carried on, he was probably going to run away with it.

“I’m lost for words really. I’m over the moon.”

Despite defeat, Xiao, 35, is enjoying his best campaign as a professional and beat Ronnie O’Sullivan, Mark Selby and 2023 champion Mark Allen on his way to the final.