Williams goes for Asian double

Mark Williams has rediscovered his confidence

Mark Williams, in the depths of despair after a narrow defeat in the Benson and Hedges Masters final, is on the verge of securing a lucrative Asian double.

He reached the final of the £476,000 Thailand Masters with a 5-2 last four defeat of world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan.

Only six days ago, the 26-year-old Welshman brought the curtain down on 17 frustrating months without a title when he rallied from 8-5 down to edge Anthony Hamilton 9-8 in the climax of the Shanghai-hosted China Open.

I haven't felt under pressure in a single match this week and I hope that applies to the final as well

Mark Williams

Now he is one win short of pocketing the £67,500 first prize in Bangkok - and taking his earnings for snooker's Far East fortnight to £130,000.

Williams goes forward to face his 110sport stablemate Stephen Lee over the best of 17 frames on Sunday, after Lee's 5-2 success against another Welshman, Matthew Stevens.

"It would be superb to do the double but it's just nice to make another final," said Williams, who will be appearing in his fourth of the season, which includes that demoralising 10-9 loss against Paul Hunter last month with the Masters gold trophy at stake.

"I went to China desperate to win something and now that I have I'm really relaxed.

"I haven't felt under pressure in a single match this week and I hope that applies to the final as well."

"I'm not back to my best but I'm certainly getting there," said Williams. "I'm making a lot more big breaks and that's a good sign."

Snooker is just a means to an end for me. It helps me pay my mortgage

Ronnie O'Sullivan

But while Williams, who is chasing his 12th world ranking title, was delighted, O'Sullivan repeated his claim that he cannot wait for the end of the season to arrive.

"Mark played well but I wouldn't have beaten an egg out there," said the misfiring Rocket.

"It hurts when I get beaten but it doesn't hurt enough to let it bother me.

It doesn't matter whether it's Thailand, China, the world championship or a pro-am round the corner when I feel like this.

"I've done what I wanted to by winning the world championship. Now it wouldn't bother me if I never picked up a cue again.

"Snooker is just a means to an end for me. It helps me pay my mortgage and with my lifestyle."

If the left-hander from Cwm, near Ebbw Vale, goes on to beat Lee in the final he will stand a realistic chance of denying O'Sullivan the world number one spot.

Williams holds an 8-2 advantage over Lee in their previous head-to-heads and, assisted by a century break in the deciding frame, edged him 5-4 in the quarter-finals of the China Open last week.