January 13th 2025.
Mark Williams shook his head in frustration as he reflected on his recent match against Ding Junhui at the Masters on Monday afternoon. It had been a dramatic 6-5 defeat, and the Welshman couldn't help but feel that luck was not on his side. Ken Doherty, a fellow snooker player, sympathized with Williams and even suggested that he may have been robbed of a victory.
The first round of the tournament had started off slowly, with both players struggling to find their rhythm. However, after the interval, the game picked up and became an exciting back-and-forth battle. Williams had managed to tie the score at 4-4 with an impressive break of 136, but things took a turn when Ding missed a simple black on 66. Williams capitalized on this mistake and won the frame by a single point, putting him in the lead at 5-4.
But despite his efforts, Williams couldn't seem to catch a break. Ding's missed pots were often followed by lucky bounces that left Williams in tricky positions. And in the end, Ding took advantage of his good fortune and made two impressive breaks of 76 and 90 to secure the victory. Williams couldn't help but feel that the run of the ball had been in Ding's favor throughout the match.
"I don't usually say this, but I think the only reason I lost today was because of the luck," Williams shared with Eurosport. "Ding had so much luck on his side the whole match. I've experienced it before, but this was the most luck someone has had against me in a long time. In the last frame, he butchered a shot and left me in trouble, and then cleared the table. It just wasn't my day."
On the other hand, Ding had made six half-centuries in his 6-5 win, showcasing his impressive skills on the table. Williams did acknowledge his opponent's abilities and wished him luck in the rest of the tournament. He even took to social media to congratulate Ding, albeit in his own unique way of spelling.
Despite feeling a bit hard done by, Williams was able to see the silver lining and appreciate the overall experience at the Masters. He praised the venue and the crowd, and congratulated Ding on his performance. Former champion Doherty also understood Williams' frustration, but pointed out that luck is a part of the game and it can go both ways.
In fact, Ding himself admitted to his slice of fortune in the 10th frame, where he smashed all the balls and left Williams with no chance. However, he maintained his composure and went on to secure a spot in the quarter-finals. He was pleasantly surprised to learn that his next opponent would be either Judd Trump or Barry Hawkins, as he had only known who he was playing against that day.
Ding expressed his love for the Masters tournament and the tough competition it brings among the top 16 players. He acknowledged the challenges of playing against such skilled opponents, but also the excitement and thrill of the game. In the end, both players showed their respect and sportsmanship towards each other, despite the outcome of the match.
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