CWM'S Mark Williams won the Thailand Masters title for the third time in four years in Bangkok yesterday - barely a month after slumping to one of the lowest points of his career.

The 26 year-old Welshman secured the £67,500 first prize and followed up his triumph in last week's Shanghai-hosted China Open with a comfortable 9-4 victory over Stephen Lee at the Merchant Court Hotel.

A dejected Williams had been edged out 10-9 by Paul Hunter in last month's Benson and Hedges Masters at Wembley and admitted to being demoralised after 17 frustrating months full of near misses.

He said: "I couldn't possibly expect anything like this after Wembley. To do the double out here is fantastic.

"It was a big relief to win in China and a load off my mind. I was beginning to think I didn't have what it takes to win any more. But once those thoughts were gone I came here under no pressure, and that's why I played so well.

"I was struggling at the start of the season. But since I've started to practice hard like I used to things have seemed to go my way."

Williams, who again potted crisply as he extended his winning streak in Asia to ten matches, amassed £130,000 during an all-conquering Far East fortnight and replaced John Higgins at the top of this season's money list with £346,450.

It was his 14th pro-tournament win - 12 of which have arrived in world ranking events to place him fourth on the all-time list behind Stephen Hendry (33), Steve Davis (28) and Higgins (15).

He is also within striking distance of Ronnie O'Sullivan, his 5-2 semi-final victim, in the provisional rankings and could yet retain his world number one status at the end of the season with only the Regal Scottish Open and Embassy World Championship left to be contested.

Williams, who now holds a 9-2 advantage over Lee in career meetings - could not have wished for a better start.

Williams built up a quick 3-0 lead and Lee did not score a point in the second or third frames. The Ebbw Vale-based left-hander missed a short-range red which Lee, handicapped when the tip of his cue worked loose during pre-match practice, capitalised on as he won the next two frames.

Williams won the next six frames to lead to forge 8-2 ahead. Lee had a mini-revival winning the next two frames but Williams claimed the next to wrap up a memorable Far East adventure and became only the third player to win back-to-back ranking events on more than one occasion. Williams added: "The world championship was the one I was looking forward to even before this, and I can't wait to get to the Crucible now. That's what I'm gearing up for now.