Ben Hancorn's first taste of Triple Crown action ended in defeat as the Portishead potter was swept aside by three-time world champion Mark Williams at the UK Championship.

Hancorn, 38, made waves early on in his first year on the professional tour by memorably reaching the last 32 at the English Open in October, but he was unable to replicate such dazzling form back in Milton Keynes.

Having started brightly with a break of 53 in the first frame, Hancorn was punished for a series of fouls when trying to hit the blue and Williams eventually prevailed 102-67 to steal a charge in the contest.

And the Welshman - who has claimed the UK Championship title twice in his near-30-year career - never looked back after that, notching his only half-century in the fifth frame as he came through unscathed 6-0.

While ultimately disappointed at the Marshall Arena - where the tournament is being played instead of its usual home of the Barbican in York - Hancorn’s run at the English Open will have given him plenty of confidence for the rest of the 2020/21 season.

The £4,000 payday in the first Home Nations event of the campaign was by far the largest of his career, and victory over World No.15 Thepchaiya Un-Nooh in round two earned the 2020 English Amateur Championship winner his best ranking finish so far.

Also this season Hancorn has tasted Round One defeat to Pang Junxu and Ali Carter at the European Masters and Northern Ireland Open respectively, and will be looking to get back to winning ways on his next venture onto the baize.

That is likely to come at next month’s Scottish Open - again being played in Milton Keynes - and another commendable run among the world’s top potters would provide Hancorn with the ideal Christmas gift.

Watch the UK Championship LIVE on Eurosport and Eurosport app. Follow all the latest tournament news on Eurosport.co.uk