THIS year saw Mark Williams win his first world crown since 2003, and the Cwm cueman will be looking to end another long wait for title glory when the UK Championship starts today.

Williams capped a fine 2017-18 in May by defeating John Higgins 18-16 to claim a third Crucible triumph at the age of 43.

It came 15 years after his second Sheffield success, the same season that he last became UK champion with a final-frame defeat of Ken Doherty.

In 2002-03, Williams followed in the footsteps of Steve Davis and Stephen Hendry as he won snooker’s big three – world, UK and Masters titles – in one campaign.

Williams first lifted the UK Championship trophy in 1999 thanks to a 10-8 win against fellow Welshman Matthew Stevens.

The Gwent star plays his opening match of the 2018 tournament at the York Barbican on Thursday night when Sheffield’s Adam Duffy is his first round opponent.

Looking back on the time of his last UK success, Williams said: “Obviously it was the year I won the grand slam, which only a couple of other players have done – Hendry and Davis – and people forget I also won the Grand Prix so I had all four in the same season.

“Only two people have done (the grand slam in the same season) before, that’s Hendry and Davis, it’s unbelievable that you’re in that category, and it’s something they can’t take away from me in the record books.”

On the UK Championship, he added: “It’s one of the best tournaments we play in. It’s not the biggest on our calendar, but it’s certainly the biggest in the UK.

“It’s been a long time since I did very well in the UK, but hopefully I can knuckle down, get a lot of practice in and play some good stuff.”

Williams isn’t the only Gwent player involved over the next 13 days, with Cwmbran’s Jak Jones and Newbridge veteran Lee Walker also in the line-up.

Jones is in action tonight against Ricky Walden, while Walker meets Li Hang of China tomorrow morning.

Ronnie O’Sullivan begins his title defence against amateur Luke Simmonds.

O’Sullivan beat Shaun Murphy in last year’s final to equal Steve Davis’ record of six UK crowns.

World number one Mark Selby will take on James Cahill and in-form Judd Trump plays David Lilley.

All 128 players starting in York need to win seven matches to take the trophy and a top prize of £170,000.

Watch the Betway UK Championship live on Eurosport and Eurosport Player with analysis from Jimmy White and Neal Foulds.