The 2006 World Snooker Star Dragon Woods Villa Cup China Open tournament was concluded in Beijing yesterday evening when World No.9 Mark Williams of the UK beat World No.6 John Higgins 9-8 in a dramatic upset. This was Williams' first ranking title since the LG Cup in 2003.

The seven-day tournament was held at the Beijing University Students Gymnasium.

The best of 17 frames finals witnessed seesaw battles between the 31-year-old left-handed Welshman and Higgins.

Higgins, aiming for his third title of the season, could have held a 5-3 lead in the eighth frame had he not jumped the cue ball over the black before Williams capitalized on this to make a 66 run and leveled the game at 4-4.

This seesawing carried on until the game was leveled again at 8-8. But Williams' stamina and determination pulled him through to grab victory with a 69-44 final frame score.

"This goes down as one of my best victories because it has been such a long time since the last one. The last frame was very edgy, the pressure was getting to the both of us. But I knocked in a good green and that won me the match," Williams said.

"There was some good and bad snooker, both of us were throwing ourselves at everything," Higgins said, adding: " I am disappointed to lose the game, but I think it was an enjoyable match for the Chinese people to watch."?