Williams - looks in superb form (Getty Images)
WILLIAMS LOOKING GOOD
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Welsh wizard Mark Williams completed the last 16 line-up in the Embassy World
Championship tonight and set the alarm bells ringing for his title rivals.
The provisional world number one gained the most comprehensive victory of the
first round with his 10-2 success over Lancastrian Stuart Pettman.
Williams has now won 46 successive opening matches in ranking events- a record
he feels will never be beaten.
The provisional world number one said: "If someone had told I would go five
years without losing my opening game, I wouldn't have believed them.
"It makes a change to have a record Stephen Hendry doesn't hold," grinned
the 28-year-old left hander.
"It would be great if I could get it up to 50," added Williams, who faces a
Crucible rematch against Quinten Hann for a place in the quarter-finals.
"And it's going to be at least six months before anyone has a chance to beat
me."
"It's a funny record because the standard is 20 times harder than it was in
the 1980s.
"It makes it even better for me and I'm really proud of it."
Williams, holder of the UK and Benson and Hedges Masters titles, resumed the
evening with a 7-2 lead - and Sheffield newcomer Pettman's ordeal was over in
half an hour.
Williams recovered from 47-0 down in frame 10 with a 78 clearance - and he
went on to add runs of 75 and 58 to reach the second round.
And while that is good news for the 2000 world champion, it is not so good for
the neighbours of the Cardiff-based cueman.
The alarm in his city centre house went off during the night and he admitted:
"It's still going as far as I know."
Williams won't be returning home before the start of his next game against
Australian Hann on Sunday afternoon.
Deprived of a bitter showdown with arch-rival with Ronnie O'Sullivan, his game
with Hann could be the next best thing.
There was bad blood between the pair in 1998 when Williams, who had been 9-4
in front, prevailed 10-9 on the last black.
Williams criticised Hann's supporters for their rowdy behaviour and admitted
this evening: "There is a bit of friction between us.
"But I don't worry about that stuff anymore. Whoever beats me, good luck to
them.
"Besides, I don't play the person - I play the balls."
Pettman, who collects a career-high payday of £15,000, said: "Mark is
probably the toughest player to meet in the first round.
"Winning the first frame yesterday calmed the nerves but it was all downhill
after that, wasn't it?"
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