An emotional Mark Williams admitted that he may never walk out for a World Snooker Championship semi or final again during his loss to Zhao Xintong. The Class of ’92 hero proved his potting abilities are timeless in Sheffield.
Williams played out a cracker of a quarter-final against John Higgins before battling past Judd Trump to set up a showdown with Zhao. While the final didn’t begin as Williams would’ve liked, the 50-year-old finding himself 7-1 down and then 17-8 adrift heading into the last evening session, he put up a hearty fight on the baize to bring things back to 17-12, prior to the Chinese star snatching away the title. Before Williams walked out to face his adversary for the last time, he conversed with former referee and World Championship tournament director Paul Collier, revealing he feels he may never reach the one-table set-up stage at the Crucible again.
Fellow Welshman Collier, who retired from refereeing in 2024 having officiated four world finals, now oversees the proceedings from afar, and he recalled his touching interaction with Williams.
“He told me at the top of the stairs that it could be the last time he walks into a one-table set at the Crucible,” Collier wrote on X after the final. “So he was going to enjoy every second. Fair play to him!”
Williams began the session in flying fashion after this statement, rattling off four frames in quick succession to make a match of what looked like a foregone conclusion. At 50, he became the oldest ever player to make it to a final
And though he feels he may not have the skills to get back to the tournament’s latter stages, he was incredibly gracious in defeat when asked about his prodigious opponent. “Unfortunately, I was just never in the final from day one,” said Williams post-match.
“I was behind from the start and could not get into it. I said that if I could get out of the first session at 5-3 down, it would have been a result, but I was 7-1 down, and it was a bit far for me to get back.
It’s been a brilliant tournament for me. The support I’ve had for the past two weeks has been unbelievable. But what a potter Zhao is. I’m glad I’ll be too old when he’s dominating the game. I’ve got nothing but admiration for what he’s done, coming through the qualifiers. He hasn’t played for two years, bashed everybody up. There’s a new superstar of the game.”
Williams admitting he’ll be “too old” to witness Zhao’s prime is another indicator that perhaps a swansong is not far around the corner, and a social media post made by the Welshman offers a further hint.
The World Seniors Championship, a tournament which follows the World Championship and also takes place at the Crucible, offers players outside the top 64 under the age of 45 a shot at glory. However, in March, it was announced that any professional can accept an invitation to the event or qualifier over the age of 45, so long as it is not on the same day as a WST competition.
Williams is eligible, and while he won’t feature this time around, the Welsh star posted to social media: “I should be there, next year.” This admission came with a picture of Williams watching the senior competition.
