CWM’S Mark Williams is in action this afternoon as the BetVictor Welsh Open returns to the Motorpoint Arena Cardiff, writes Andrew Penman.

The two-time former world champion faces China’s Lyu Chenwei after 2pm today.

Williams was the last home winner of the tournament when he beat Stephen Hendry in a magnificent final frame decider back in 1999 at the Cardiff International Arena.

Hendry got his revenge in 2003 when he beat Williams 9-4 and that was the last time we had a Welsh representative in the final.

Sponsors BetVictor offer odds of 12/1 for a home winner in 2016 and 13/2 that a Welsh player makes the final on Sunday, February 21.

Fellow home favourites Duane Jones, Jamie Jones, Michael White, Ryan Day, Matthew Stevens and Dominic Dale are all in action today with play starting at 10.30am.

Three-time winner Ronnie O’Sullivan is again the star attraction as the top 128 players in the world meet in the Welsh capital.

It is not confirmed if this will be O’Sullivan’s last tournament before the World Championship at the Crucible Sheffield in April, but the Rocket showed his well-being when winning his home tournament the Masters in London last month and the five-time world champion remains the one to beat.

O’Sullivan memorably won the last of his three Welsh Open titles with a maximum 147 break in the deciding frame at the Newport Centre back in 2014.

And he is the 10/3 favourite this year after what looks a favourable draw, although he did lose 4-3 in a similar best-of-seven event to his first round opponent Barry Pinches back in 2010.

Holder and four-time champion John Higgins begins his defence against former World Championship semi-finalist Andy Hicks.

The last player to win the title back-to-back was Higgins himself back in 2010 and 2011 and it is a tournament that is invariably won by one of the leading players with the list of previous champions a veritable who’s who of snooker.