The Carthage, Texas, bull rider went from being a virtual unknown on the PBR Tour before last year's Copenhagen Bull Riding Challenger Tour Championship to a household name.
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And it all started in Oklahoma City.
Williams finished fourth during last year's Express Open week-long qualifying rounds at the Lazy E Arena, earning him one of 10 spots in the Challenger Tour Championship at the Ford Center.
At the championship, Williams bested the field of the best bull riders in the world to win the title and $200,000, propelling him to become the Daisy Rookie of the Year on the PBR Tour and making the PBR finals.
The top prize has been increased to $500,000 this year as the Copenhagen Bull Riding Challenger Tour Championship opens tonight at the Ford Center with the Express Open qualifying round.
Instead of the week-long qualifying at the Lazy E Arena this year, 10 riders will attempt to make the championship field during peformances at 6:50 p.m. today and at noon Saturday.
But the qualifying rounds are not filled entirely with unknowns.
Among the bull riders competing in the Express Open qualifying rounds include former two-time PBR champ Mike White, former PBR champ Ednei Caminhas and PBR stars Travis Briscoe and Ross Coleman.
The Oklahomans in the field inlcude Cord McCoy of Tupelo, Austin Meier of Kinta, Cody Whitney of Asher and Jody Newberry of Ada.
The top 10 from the 60 riders competing in the qualifying rounds will join 35 other riders in the championship: the top 25 bull riders in the Challenger Tour Standings and 10 of the top bull riders from the PBR Built Ford Tough Series.
The final rounds are scheduled for 6:50 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday.
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More Info
Bull riding
•What: Copenhagen Bull Riding Challenger Tour Championship
•Where: Ford Center
•Purse: $1 million; Winner earns $500,000
•PerformancesTonight, 7:30 p.m., Express Open Qualifying Round
Saturday, noon, Express Open Qualifying Round
Saturday, 6:50 p.m., Challenger Tour Championship
Sunday, 2 p.m., Challenger Tour Championship
•Tickets: On sale at all Ticketmaster outlets and the Ford Center Box Office (235-8288)
•TV coverage: Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 7 p.m. on the Versus Network (Cox Digital 251, DirecTV 608 and Dish Network 151
•PBR Fan Zone and Marketplace: Open today from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. in Cox Convention Center, Exhibit 2-3. Rider "meet and greets,” where fans can get autographs from bull riders, is from 2-3:30 p.m.
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