Mark Williams takes swipe at ITV pundit Stephen Hendry after ‘getting slated’ over major change to his game

MARK WILLIAMS took a cheeky swipe at pal Stephen Hendry after proving that a major tweak to his game had worked out.

Williams, 49, won his first ever Champion of Champions event last night after a 10-6 win over Xiao Guodong in Bolton.

The three-time world champion proved that he is ageing like a fine wine at the table as he pocketed £150,000 for his heroics in the competition.

And Williams won the contest while still getting used to a huge change to his game, a new cue.

The Welsh Potting Machine had chosen to use a brand new cue in the lead up to the tournament, despite pushback on the idea from good mate and ITV pundit Stephen Hendry.

And Williams couldn’t resist taking a tongue-in-cheek swipe at seven-time world champ Hendry after proving him wrong by winning the Champion of Champions.

Speaking on ITV4 after his victory, he said: ” I had a new cue, which I knew I was going to struggle with, I knew I was going to lose two or three first-rounders.

“I wasn’t worried about that because I really like my new cue and I knew it would come good.

‘I’ve been getting slated by a lot of people for changing cues, I’m not going to mention any names Hendry, but it’s starting to come alright now and all of a sudden the cue is the best thing I’ve ever had in my hands.”

Williams had managed to reach the final of the lucrative Saudi Arabia Masters earlier in the year, but struggled for form after his final defeat when getting used to his new cue.

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And he is certainly flying with it now after a spectacular tournament in Bolton.

Hendry wasn’t too upset by his pal’s jokey jibe, instead gushing about Williams and lauding him for continuing his success despite his age.

He said: “He’s my hero, I have to say it.

“He is my best mate on tour as well, but what he’s doing at almost 50, how he’s playing and the way he plays with not a care in the world it’s just incredible, I love it.”

Williams wasn’t the only veteran than managed to get a win under his belt last week.

Jimmy While rolled back the years with an emphatic victory at the UK Snooker Championship… 43 years after his debut in the tournament.