'I still give these youngsters a run for their money' - Mark Williams on competing at top level after Masters final loss

ByThe Editorial Team

Published 16/01/2023 at 05:31 GMT

Aged 47, Mark Williams is still competing at the very top of the game and he almost claimed his first Masters title in 20 years when he took on Judd Trump at Alexandra Palace on Sunday, falling just short. However, he remained in positive spirits despite the narrow defeat. “I’m not a young man anymore but I still give these youngsters a run for their money!" he laughed.

Mark Williams joked that despite not being a “young man anymore, I still give these youngsters a run for their money” after he lost to Judd Trump in the 2023 Masters final.

Williams, 14 years Trump's senior, was appearing in his first Masters final for 20 years, hoping to claim the prize for the third time in his career.

However, he fell just short as he lost the final two frames of the match, as Trump sealed his second Masters title with a 10-8 win.

“Yeah, it was a great match the whole way through,” Williams said immediately after the match.

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“I think the standard was quite good. I mean, Judd made a fabulous break in the last frame and that's what he does, that’s why he's one of the best in the world.

“Judd was just a bit too strong for me at the end, I think.

'I'm still giving these youngsters a run for their money!' - Williams on Masters near-miss

• Judd Trump hails Masters success as 'best ever win' following win over Mark Williams
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“I’m not a young man anymore but I still give these youngsters a run for their money! I can't quite beat him, but I'm getting close.

“But honestly, it's been a brilliant week, I’ve enjoyed it. Loved it. I left everything out there. I couldn’t give any more. Congratulations to Judd.

“I just hope I can come back next year, you know, because it's difficult to get back in these tournaments. This is where everybody wants to play."

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