Welsh Open 2023: Jak Jones stuns Mark Williams with tense victory on a decider in battle of the Welsh

Jak Jones stunned Mark Williams with an impressive 4-3 victory over the three-time world champion at the Welsh Open.

There was never more than one frame to separate the pair in Llandudno and it was the underdog who ultimately came out on top in a decider.

Jones, who has been on and off the tour since 2010, will play Julien Leclercq or Jordan Brown in the last 32 on Wednesday night.

Williams was on top in a long opening frame as three separate breaks saw him take the early advantage, before he missed two reds to the right middle pocket in the next frame which proved costly.

Despite the lack of table time, Jones capitalised on the errors with a great clearance of 91 to make it 1-1.

A big safety error from Jones gave Williams an easy starter in the third frame and he hit back with a stunning clearance of his own, a 122 where he never looked like missing.

Unlike O’Sullivan, Williams hit a red and fluked another one in. He was not left on a colour though so couldn’t take advantage.

Later in the frame, Jones knocked in a stunning long red which saw him then compile a frame-winning break of 52 to make it all square again.

It looked like Williams was going to get back in front, but missed a red to the bottom right pocket on 47, then jawed a blue.

Just like he had did in the previous frame, Jones stepped in and made a break of 66 which left Williams requiring a snooker.

The three-time world champion got it when Jones missed hitting the final pink, only for the latter to double the pink in to seal the frame and go one away from victory.

Williams was on course to respond in the sixth frame, but fouled when potting the blue as the cue ball hit a red that knocked another one into the pocket.

Although the pink and black were tied up, Jones had his big chance, but missed a blue off the spot on 26 when the white was tight to the cushion.

Some excellent shot-making from Williams saw him clinch the frame to send the match into a decider.

Williams called a foul on himself after some very cagey safety play but it didn’t matter because a re-rack was agreed just seconds later.

The current Masters runner-up went for a long red but missed it by a long way so Jones capitalised and made a composed break of 73. Williams played on to try and get the two snookers he needed, so made his own break of 73, then laid a nasty snooker with the white next to the pink and the red up the table.

Jones missed so Williams now needed one snooker as the nerves could really be felt inside the Venue Cymru. However, it was Jones who laid a snooker of his own after some tactical play and Williams missed the red, so the world No. 53 recorded the biggest win of his season so far.

Defending champion Joe Perry was victorious 4-1 over Mark Joyce and there were also wins for Shaun Murphy, Luca Brecel, Ben Mertens, Anthony McGill and Robert Milkins on an entertaining Tuesday in Llandudno.

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