Williams treble favourite

Mark Williams was made one bookmaker's favourite at 11-4 for the world title after his emphatic 10-4 victory over Stephen Hendry in the 29th and last Benson & Hedges Masters final at Wembley.

If he can hold the sport's oldest trophy aloft at the Crucible in Sheffield on May 5 he will become only the third player after Steve Davis and Hendry to win the UK, Masters and world titles in the same season.

Hendry's price for an eighth world title has shortened from 7-1 to 4-1, joint second favourite with Ronnie O'Sullivan, who has not won a title since the Regal Scottish Masters in September even if he is always capable of striking a seam of sustained and almost irresistible excellence. Paul Hunter, winner of November's British Open, whose pursuit of a hat-trick of Masters titles was ended by Williams in the semi-finals, is quoted at 14-1.

"I think Hendry, Hunter and me are the three form players. I think the rest have got to catch up," said Williams, partly in reference to John Higgins, winner of four titles last season but none this.

Higgins' odds of 7-1, though, reflect the probability that the second half of his season will be more productive than his first. Peter Ebdon, the reigning world champion who has done little of note so far, is quoted at 16-1.

"I think I've got a lot more balls than some of the others and that stands me in good stead," said Williams, whose fierce competitive instincts make it a matter of pride that he does "my best in every match I play, however I'm playing".

His £210,000 first prize will be the last he receives from Benson & Hedges, victim of the government ban on tobacco sponsorship, although Embassy has an exemption for its championship until 2005.

Everyone hopes that a new sponsor will be found for the Masters, ideally one prepared to match last week's £750,000 prize fund and invest another £500,000 in promotion.

Certainly Wembley Conference Centre wants to continue hosting the Masters. From BBC's coverage it receives eight days' free marketing publicity, and the total attendance of 24,239 was the highest since 1988.