Williams is striving to return to the elite top 16

Two-time champion Mark Williams beat Gerard Greene 9-7 in final qualifying to reach the televised stages of the UK Championship starting on Saturday.

The Welshman, out of the top 16 this season, has failed to reach the final stages of the last two ranking events.

But the former world champion came from 7-6 down to beat Greene and book a first-round date with Mark Selby.

Fellow Welshman Matthew Stevens will also be in Telford after thrashing Scot Marcus Campbell 9-3 in qualifying.

Williams won the UK, snooker's second biggest title, in 1999 and 2002.

Another former world champion, and three-time UK finalist, Ken Doherty, also booked his place in Telford with a 9-4 victory over China's Liu Chuang.

The Dubliner will face Scot Graeme Dott, the 2006 world champion, in the first round of the televised stages.

"It's just nice to be back at a tournament and hopefully this win is the start of a good run for me," said Doherty.

"When you keep losing it does affect your confidence. I'd be lying if I said otherwise. I can't wait to play in the UK, it's a great tournament and I really want to do well there."

Reigning champion Ronnie O'Sullivan, chasing a fifth UK title, will face Rory McLeod in the first round.

The Qatar-based player beat Dave Harold 9-6 in a marathon contest featuring one frame of 62 minutes, one of 54 and one of 44.

Shaun Murphy, the 2005 world champion, will open his UK campaign against Londoner Martin Gould, a part-time casino croupier.

Gould came from 5-2 down to beat Welshman Dominic Dale and reach the last 32 of a ranking event for only the second time in his career.

Steve Davis, a six-time UK champion, will also be playing in Telford after overcoming Adrian Gunnell 9-7.

UK Championship Final qualifying results:

Rory McLeod (Eng) bt Dave Harold (Eng) 9-6
Mark Davis (Eng) bt Nigel Bond (Eng) 9-2
Ken Doherty (Irl) bt Liu Chuang (Chn) 9-4
Mark Williams (Wal) bt Gerard Greene (Eng) 9-7
Martin Gould (Eng) bt Dominic Dale (Wal) 9-6
Stuart Bingham (Eng) bt Jimmy Michie (Eng) 9-3
Barry Hawkins (Eng) bt Alan McManus (Sco) 9-4
Matthew Stevens (Wal) bt Marcus Campbell (Sco) 9-3
Ian McCulloch (Eng) bt Joe Delaney (Irl) 9-1
Andrew Higginson (Eng) bt Anthony Hamilton (Eng) 9-4
Michael Holt (Eng) bt Fergal O'Brien (Irl) 9-4
Judd Trump (Eng) bt Michael Judge (Irl) 9-6
Jamie Burnett (Sco) bt Jamie Cope (Eng) 9-7
Stephen Lee (Eng) bt Andy Hicks (Eng) 9-6
Joe Swail (NI) bt Liang Wenbo (Chn) 9-8
Steve Davis (Eng) bt Adrian Gunnell (Eng) 9-7

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