Mark Williams shows true colours to Judd Trump after losing £500k Saudi snooker final
Mark Williams came agonisingly close to winning the top snooker prize in Riyadh.
Mark Williams humbly lavished praise on Judd Trump just moments after losing the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters final in a tense deciding frame, going down 10-9 to the world No. 1.
The Welsh Potting Machine had one hand on the trophy and was on the brink of the £500,000 cash prize having led 62-0 at 9-9, only to clip the jaw of the pocket with a red before Trump cleaned up the table in reply.
And while many would be bitter at being so close to victory, Williams was gracious in his response and said: "It just shows what a champ he is, what a break - and half a million quid he's won, reds safe, 62 behind, congratulations to him."
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Williams then added: "I didn't play my best all week, to be honest. Then I got to the final and towards the end it was probably the best the both of us have played."
During the break in play between sessions, Williams declared on social media "I am crap" and he also had a shave and a haircut before returning to the table, playing some of his best snooker only to come up just short.
He continued: "It was a fantastic game, we didn't play well to be honest from the start but towards the end it was really good and I nearly had a good break in that last one. It was a red I fancied on 62 but it wasn't as if I twitched or anything, I thought it was in.
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"£100,000 goes to her (Williams' wife) and £100,000 goes to the tax man.
"I didn't play really good all week to be honest, I am a trier, I'll stick in and try my best, I have got to the final 9-9 and 62 in front - that's a whisker and I nearly won it. I didn't really do anything wrong, towards the end of that match was probably the best both of us have played."
The three-time world champion previously admitted that his goal is to stay in the top 16 by the time he turns 50 in March, but if he continues at this rate he will be closer to Trump at the pinnacle.
However, Williams has played less snooker the older he gets and joked earlier in the tournament that the only downside of being in Riyadh was having to get his cue out of the case.
But even in defeat he was able to put a smile on each member of the crowd's face as he sauntered across the table to move within inches of claiming the top prize.
