Carter beats Williams to claim first English Open

England's Ali Carter won the English Open in style with a 9-6 victory over Mark Williams in front of his home support in Brentwood.Essex-born Carter, 47, won all-but one frame in a dominant evening session, sealing the last frame without reply to claim the winner's prize of £100,000.Neither player had previously won the English Open, and it was Wales' Williams who took control to lead 5-3 at the interval.However, Carter won the first two frames after the resumption to level and from there never trailed."I thought, 'I am going for this'. I didn't care where the balls were today; I wasn't going to lose this by turning down balls," Carter told TNT Sports."I kept potting the big shots and knocking all the difficult balls in. I am delighted."This is very, very special."Carter, who has Crohns disease and twice fought cancer – most recently being given the all-clear in 2014 having been diagnosed with a cancerous tumour on his lung – added: "I have been to hell and back. "I know I am not everyone's cup of tea, but what you see is what you get."The victory, a seventh ranking title of his career and first since 2024, also moves Carter back into the world's top 16, moving up nine places from 25th."It is a great achievement to pick up another trophy at 47, especially in front of my home fans," he said.