Mark Williams disappointed with defeat but reckons Mark Selby deserved to win 2011 Shanghai Masters
Welshman Mark Williams played outstandingly in the final match of 2011 Shanghai Masters but couldn’t book a victory and eventually lost to the Englishman Mark Selby by the scoreline of
10-9. However, the Welshmen appreciated Selby for his tremendous performance in the final and reckoned the English potter deserved the victory because he played better than him.
The Welsh Potting Machine enjoyed a sensational Shanghai event from the beginning, grabbing easy victories as compared to his final opponent. The Welshman recorded a whitewash victory
over England’s Andrew Higginson in the very first round of the tournament by the scoreline of 5-0. He played Robert Milkins in Round 2 and beat him quite convincingly by 5-1 after a stunning potting display.
Williams surged into the quarter-final stage of the competition after beating Milkins 5-1. He faced compatriot Matthew Stevens in the Last eight group and treated him with same medicine
he used against Milkins, ousting him by 5-0 to go head-to-head against the former World Snooker Champions from Australia, Neil Robertson.
Williams had a tussling encounter with the Australian potter, who gave him a real tough time during their semi-final clash. The 36-year-old had a close competition with Robertson but somehow
managed to take him down by 6-5 to step into the final match against England’s Mark Selby.
Williams had an early advantage over the Englishman when he took a lead but he soon tumbled down to 5-7 with Selby in lead. However, The Welsh Wonder didn’t lose heart and troubled Selby
with four consecutive frame victories to take the score at 9-7. Unfortunately, Williams couldn’t maintain his impressive run and was nudged down by 9-10 after Selby sprang back to clinch the final match.
While speaking to the local media after the match, Williams said, “Overall Mark played a bit better than me so he deserved it.”
The Shanghai Masters final match defeat is Williams’ second ranking event final defeat in the current snooker season. Previously he reached the final of 2011 Australian Open against Stuart
Bingham but lost to him by 8-9.
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