Ali Carter Rejects £100k Jackpot After Beating Mark Williams in Tense Final

Ali Carter Rejects £100k Jackpot After Beating Mark Williams in Tense Final

 

 

Ali Carter produced a stunning comeback against Mark Williams to win the 2026 English Open, overturning an afternoon deficit before sealing a 9–6 victory in a dramatic final at the Brentwood Centre in Essex.

Williams appeared to have taken control of the contest after the opening session, where the Welshman established a 5–3 advantage. The two-time world champion produced impressive breaks of 136 and 132 as he looked capable of completing another major ranking-event triumph.

But Carter returned for the evening session with a completely different level of performance. The Englishman won six of the final seven frames, turning the match around when it mattered most and eventually completing a memorable 9–6 victory.

The triumph earned Carter the English Open title and a £100,000 winner’s prize. It also represented a major moment in his career, with the victory bringing him his seventh ranking title and his first ranking success in two years. The result also lifted him back inside the world’s top 16.

For Williams, the defeat was particularly frustrating after such a strong start. His 5–3 lead meant he entered the final session with a clear advantage, but Carter’s relentless response changed the direction of the match. As the frames slipped away, Williams was unable to reproduce the standard he had shown earlier in the day.

Carter’s victory was also the latest chapter in a career defined by persistence. The 47-year-old has endured difficult periods away from the snooker table, including serious health battles, but continued competing at the highest level. His latest ranking title demonstrates that he remains capable of producing his best snooker on the biggest occasions.

The final also highlighted the difference between starting strongly and finishing strongly. Williams had the better opening session, but Carter’s ability to maintain his concentration and take advantage of opportunities during the evening ultimately proved decisive.

Rather than allowing the 5–3 deficit to become an insurmountable obstacle, Carter treated the final session as a fresh contest. His six-frame surge transformed the match from one in which Williams looked favourite into a convincing victory for the Englishman.

The £100,000 jackpot therefore belonged to Carter after one of the most impressive comebacks of his recent career. Williams was left to settle for the runner-up position, despite having looked in control for much of the opening half of the final.

Carter’s win gives him another major ranking title to add to his career record and provides fresh evidence that he can still challenge the sport’s established stars. For Williams, the result will be remembered as a painful missed opportunity after his excellent start.

Ultimately, the English Open final was decided not by who began better, but by who handled the decisive moments best. Williams led 5–3, but Carter finished with six wins from the last seven frames to claim a 9–6 victory, the trophy and the £100,000 prize.If you want, I can also make this , while keeping the facts accurate.more dramatic and clickable for a Facebook sports-news post