MARK Williams admits he threw away his UK Snooker Championship second-round clash with Tom Ford after crashing out of the tournament in York on Saturday afternoon, writes Luke Baker.

The Cwm cueman looked set for the last 32 as he led Leicester’s Ford 5-3 at the Barbican Centre – having made breaks of 105, 53 and 82.

But the Englishman fought back and clinched a memorable 6-5 triumph with a 66 break in the last to send the two-time world champion home.

The defeat continues Williams’ recent struggles at the UK Championship, having not gone beyond the third round since reaching the final back in 2010.

The 40-year-old hinted at being dissatisfied with playing conditions in York but couldn’t fault Ford for his comeback.

“I’ve got to be careful what I say because I could get myself into trouble but he made some good clearances, so I’ve got to take my hat off to him,” said Williams.

“I can’t say too much because I could get myself in trouble. I wish I’d won because it sounds like sour grapes but I’m not like that.

“I lost and he made some great clearances but I was very unlucky with some of the bounces I had towards the end – they were incredible really and that’s what cost me.

“It adds to the disappointment and I threw that match away I suppose.”

Williams is a two-time UK champion, having lifted the famous trophy back in 1999 and 2002 after beating Matthew Stevens and Ken Doherty in the respective finals.

However, he has not won a ranking event since the 2011 German Masters and his barren run will now continue into 2016.

The Welshman is still ranked inside the world’s top 16 – currently sitting 13th – and claims that the disappointment of losing doesn’t stay with him very long in his 24th professional season.

“At the end of the day, I’ve just lost 6-5 – does anyone really care? I don’t,” he added.

“I process defeat very quickly – I just can’t wait to get home to see the Fury fight. I was either going to watch it up in York or back home, so it will be back home.”

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