Snooker: Mark Williams ended the most barren spell of his career by beating John Higgins 9-8 in a dramatic China Open final in Beijing today.
Welshman Williams, who made the 6,000 mile journey east trying to protect his membership of the elite top 16 in the world rankings, flies home with the first prize and eroded self-belief restored.
It was the 16th world ranking title captured by the 31 year-old Welshman, but the first since he beat Higgins 9-5 to claim the LG Cup at Preston in October 2003.
Since then, Williams has slumped alarmingly — on his own admission he became lazy — and at times wondered whether his glory days were a thing of the past.
But those doubts were dispelled today when, in a nail-biter of a deciding frame, Williams drilled in a long green and cleared the colours to pink to snatch the verdict.
"That probably goes down as one of my most satisfying wins ever," said the double world champion. "I haven't lifted a trophy for such a long time, and there have been times in the last couple of years when I thought I might never get to lift one again.
"Not only that — but to beat the best player in the world this season with the world championship just around the corner, it couldn't really be much better."
Williams, who hammered Stephen Hendry 5-1 in the quarter-finals and defending champion Ding Junhui 6-2 for a place in the final, added: "There were a couple of points when I just couldn't see myself turning things around. Now I have, and it's a great feeling."