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Mark Williams tightened his grip on snooker's major prizes in Preston leaving LG Cup runner-up John Higgins to say: "He is the man we have all got to beat."

The Welsh left-hander defeated Higgins 9-5 despite a brilliant maximum break and another effort of 142 from the 28-year-old Scot.

Williams now holds all four of BBC TV's major tournaments - the World, UK, Masters and LG Cup - and is romping clear at the head of the rankings.

"Mark is playing to a terrifically-high standard when it comes to the pressure games," said Higgins.

"He is the one we are all chasing. We need him to lose a few first-round matches if we are to catch him as world number one.

"But I think that is going to be impossible," said Higgins who despite his defeat, walked away £67,500 richer.

"It was great to make a maximum but it is the old cliché that it only wins you one frame.

"However, I only missed a couple of balls so I am not going to beat myself up too much.

"I will take the positives from this week rather than the negatives," added the world number four from Wishaw.

Higgins' maximum contained a huge slice of fortune. He missed the 12th black but the ball rattled the jaws, rolled across the table, bounced off a side cushion and dropped into the same pocket.

For Williams, it was another night of triumph. He has never made a competitive 147 break - but he does not need to.

His highest contribution of the final was 127 but he added other telling runs of 74, 83, 65, 78 and 51.

He also converted one of the shots of his career to virtually guarantee him the silverware.

After Higgins missed the final blue in frame 14, Williams drilled in a magnificent long shot on the same ball.

"It was a cracker," he grinned. "It is probably one of the best shots under pressure I have done.

"I could not see myself making a good safety and it was my kind of crazy shot.

"I knew if it goes in I could win the match and I went for it 100 per cent."

Williams clearly was not put off as Higgins became the 13th player to compile a maximum and lose the match.

"It does not matter if it is 147 or 70, you still have another frame coming up.

"And I was confident that if I could get a chance, I was playing well and I could take it.

"This is the best I have ever done in the first ranking tournament of the season and hopefully I can keep it going."

In addition to his first prize, Williams also collects 100 points towards the new LG Electronics Tour prize of £50,000.

The Tour comprises of seven events and concludes with the Players' Championship in Glasgow next April.