MARK Williams believes he is a changed man after booking his place in the second round of the ManBetX Welsh Open, writes Will Jennings (Sportsbeat).

The three-time-world champion safely navigated his way through his first round clash with Oliver Lines at Cardiff’s Motorpoint Arena, winning 4-1 after constructing a classy break of 87 in frame two.

And while it has been far from plain sailing for the Cwm potter this season, he says he regrets his lack of preparation in recent months and is changing his ways with the Betfred World Championship rapidly approaching.

“I’m just over the moon to get through really,” he said.

“If I hadn’t been practising during the last month I would have probably lost that match, but I managed to stick in and get the win.

“I’ve let myself down over the last 12 months in that I literally won’t pick my cue up and will just go into tournaments knowing I’m going to get hammered.

“I just had enough of it in the end and thought I may as well practice for the end of the season and try and get a bit of momentum - I wanted to give the last few months the best shot I could at doing well and see what happens.

“The next couple of months is all about trying to win as many matches as I can and trying to get a bit of momentum ahead of the World Championships.

“If you go into it with no momentum the chances are you won’t do very well, because it’s such a long, gruelling 17 days.

“I absolutely feel if I start to put more work in, things could turn around for me.”

Newport’s Darren Morgan was another Welsh player to enjoy a successful first day in Cardiff, easing past Gavin Lewis 4-0 in their first round qualifier.

While there were no breaks upward of 50 in the match it was a composed performance from the 53-year-old amateur, who lost to Jimmy White in the final at the World Seniors Championship last year.

Elsewhere, world No35 Matthew Stevens beat David Gilbert 4-2, Daniel Wells overcame Barry Pinches 4-2 while world No80 Lee Walker was defeated by the same score against John Astley.

Watch the Welsh Open live on Eurosport and Eurosport Player with analysis from Jimmy White and Neal Foulds