Snooker: Dubliner Michael Judge had "the best win" of his career when he beat former world champion Mark Williams 5-2 in the first round of the £400,000 Preston Grand Prix yesterday.
Williams fears he may never regain the form which made him world champion and world number one just 16 months ago and the Welsh player became the highest ranked casualty yesterday.
Williams said after his defeat: "I'm nowhere near the player I was a year ago, and I don't know if I'm going to get that form back. I'm trying as hard as ever but it's hard to see where I'm going to get the form to win titles again."
Williams, who became a father for the first time on the eve of last season's world championship, once went 48 ranking events without losing his opening match. But his aura of invincibility has temporarily gone.
"Michael played some good solid frames and after going 3-2 down I didn't really get much of a chance," said Williams. He led 64-0 in the fifth but lost the frame to an excellent break of 70 by the Irishman.
Judge, who joins fellow Dubliners Ken Doherty and Leo Fernandez in round two, described his performance as "easily the best win of my career".
"It's one thing saying you're good enough to beat the top guys, it's another thing to actually do it," said the 29-year-old, world number 42.
Scotsman Marcus Campbell will provide the opposition for Judge after the Dumbarton professional upset Australian Quinten Hann 5-3.
Fernandez beat Scotland's Drew Henry yesterday while Doherty beat Anthony Davis over the weekend.
