All it took for Mark Williams to win his first Champion of Champions snooker tournament was to completely ignore Stephen Hendry’s advice.

Williams, a three-time world champion, saw his 5-0 lead cut to 5-4 by Xiao Guodong, but he ultimately held on for a 10-6 win at Bolton.

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Closing out the year with a huge win will have proven many doubters wrong, including one of the best to ever do it – Stephen Hendry.

Hendry, a retired seven-time world champion, had criticized Williams’ decision to change benchmarks mid-season, something the Welshman couldn’t resist taking a dig at after the win.

Speaking to ITV with the expert in front of him, he said: “I had a new signal, which I knew I was going to struggle with, I knew I was going to lose the first two or three rounds.

“I wasn’t worried about it because I really like my new line and I knew it would turn out well.

“A lot of people have suggested I change the cue, I’m not going to name any names, Hendry, but it’s starting to go well now and all of a sudden the cue is the best thing I’ve ever known. I had in my hands.”

Williams will have taken some satisfaction in having opened the dig, given Hendry wasn’t exactly going easy on him in September.

Speaking after Williams’ surprise exit at the British Open, the Scot said: “It was a very, very bad performance.

“It uses a new signal. I hope he was paid well because this is going to derail his season. It’s going to take some time for him to get used to it.

“It looked horrible and his play was horrible. It was very, very bad.

In response to the claims, Williams wrote on social media: “Derail his season? What’s up, my season is already done.

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The Welshman then went further on the radio, referencing Hendry’s failed 2020 return.

“It’s easy in the comment box, isn’t it?” he commented. “We saw his comeback, how it ended, so he can’t really say too much about my tip, can he?

“Maybe he should use one, maybe he could play a little better.”

However, claims that there was a “war of words” between the two were quickly put aside by Hendry later.

Of their relationship, he said: “He’s my hero, I have to say.

“He’s also my best friend on tour, but what he does at almost 50, how he plays and the way he plays without a care in the world, it’s just amazing, I love it.”