By Hannah Blackwell Mark Williams shook off the challenge of David Gilbert – and the attentions of a persistent wasp – to win his Masters first-round match 6-2 at Alexandra Palace. The world No 7 began in ominous fashion, hitting back-to-back century breaks to start the match and adding a further run of 95 to […]

He may have delivered one of the all-time great losing performances in a thriller at the World Snooker Championship, but Mark Williams reckons he would rather have been thrashed. The three-time champion produced an epic fightback before losing 17-16 in a nerve-shredding final frame to Judd Trump in their semi-final at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre. Williams was bidding to add a fourth world title to the triumph he last enjoyed in 2018, but although he contributed to one of the greatest matches in the tournament’s long history, he said there was little consolation.

By Tom Prosser  Welsh snooker legend Mark Williams says he was ‘destined to win’ the British Open on Sunday evening as he beat Gary Wilson 6-4 to claim yet another ranking title. “I’m a little bit fortunate to win it,” said Williams who first won the British Open title in 1997. “There were two or probably three matches that I definitely should have lost but somehow I managed to win them.

Mark Williams insists he is back enjoying snooker again despite his Betfred World Snooker Championship thrashing by Mark Selby. Wales’ three-time world champion Williams was beaten 13-3 by Selby with a session to spare in Sheffield to end his bid for a fourth title at the age of 46. Reaching the last eight underlined a decent tournament for the cueman from Cwm, whose world ranking has slipped to No.12 since he won a dramatic third world title in 2018.

Mark Williams crashed out of the European Masters at the hands of Tour rookie Peter Devlin who is also a rapper with his own You Tube channel. Wales’ three-time world champion fought back from 4-1 down to level at 4-4 in the second-round match.

Mark Williams has jumped to the defence of snooker’s young brigade and called Ronnie O’Sullivan “disrespectful” for his criticisms of their standards. Wales’ former world champion saw his pursuit of a third title ended by O’Sullivan on Tuesday when the five-time champion won their quarter-final 13-10 at the Crucible. It was a clash between two of the game’s ageing legends with Williams now 45 and O’Sullivan 44. But it was a contest given more spice by O’Sullivan’s comments that levels of performance among the younger generation was so low that he would, “have to lose an arm and a leg to fall out of the top 50.”

Mark Williams reeled off six unanswered frames to book his place in the last 16 of the Betfred World Snooker Championships, before dispelling once and for all any notion of hanging up his cue. Since claiming his third world crown two years ago, the 45-year-old from Cwm has regularly hinted at retiring from the sport he has graced for 28 years. But following his 10-5 win over Alan McManus, Williams confirmed that life since the start of the coronavirus pandemic had changed his perspective.

Mark Williams is hoping 23 years of experience can help him through to another World Snooker Championship final he strives to become king of the golden oldies. Wales’ three-time world champion trails Scotland’s Alan McManus 5-4 at The Crucible in Sheffield in the first round battle of the roaring Forties. Williams is encouraged by a renewed focus, however, as he leads a generation of ageless veterans into this year’s tournament.

Matthew Stevens and Jamie Clarke have both been handed tough first-round assignments in the Betfred World Snooker Championships. Stevens, twice a finalist at the Crucible, takes on four-time champion John Higgins, runner-up to Judd Trump in 2019.

Welshman Mark Williams crashed out of the ManBetX Welsh Open snooker championships in Cardiff – and tore the buttons off his shirt. Williams, the former World champion from Cam, lost 4-1 against Scotland’s Anthony McGill and then insisted the damage to his shirt was not down to frustration. “I just couldn’t wait to get the […]

Mark Williams labelled it as the worst performance of his career, but for Michael White his victory in the all-Welsh clash at the UK Championship might just be a career-saver. Neath’s White admitted his progression to the Betway UK Championship last 32 has restored his wavering belief in his snooker ability. The 28-year-old former world number 15 had endured a sustained period of disappointing results which had seem him drop outside of the world’s top 60, and arrived at the York Barbican without having gone past the first round of a tournament all season.

Two intriguing all-Welsh battles are in prospect this weekend as the second round of the Betway UK Championship gets underway. Six Welshmen made it through the first round in York this week – and the draw has ensured that at least two of them will take their place in the last 32 of snooker’s second-most lucrative ranking tournament. Former UK champion Matthew Stevens and two-time ranking event winner Ryan Day meet tomorrow evening (Saturday), and on Sunday, two generations clash when former world champion Mark Williams takes on 29-year-old Michael White.