Lee Walker claimed one of the biggest scalps of his 25-year career by knocking world number one Judd Trump out of the 19.com English Open. The Gwent player had tasted victory just once this season before the tournament began, but made it three wins in as many days to set up a last 16 clash with Gary Wilson. In a high quality match, Walker stunned the world champion by taking the opening two frames with breaks of 74 and 67, only for Trump to reply with back-to-back centuries.

By Simon Kendal-Williams Mark Williams booked his place in the second round of the 19.com English Open – before hinting that he may hang up his cue at the end of the season. The three-time world champion was made to dig deep by fellow Welshman Jamie Clarke at the K2 Centre in Crawley, eventually closing […]

No fewer than a dozen Welsh warriors are crossing the border into enemy territory this week, all aiming to bring back the spoils from the 19.com English Open. Leading the charge – as you may expect – is the evergreen Mark Williams, fresh from losing an enthralling China Open final last month to a resurgent Shaun Murphy. But right on his shoulder is perhaps the more surprising sight of 26-year-old Jak Jones.

Welsh wonder-kid Jackson Page is heading to China after securing his place in the main draw of the World Open later this month. The 18-year-old from Ebbw Vale only turned professional this year following a short, but successful, amateur career. And the player known as ‘The Diamond’ has wasted little time in showing that he can cut it at the highest level.

Mark Williams has praised the NHS but revealed he needs more treatment after bowing out of the snooker World Championship in Sheffield. The defending champion was beaten 13-9 by David Gilbert on Saturday in the last 16 of the tournament just hours after being released from hospital. Williams had complained of chest pains on Friday night and remained in accident and emergency until after 11pm before doctors allowed him to return to his hotel.

Mark Williams launched a scathing attack on ‘pathetic’ World Snooker chiefs after they allegedly denied his son access to his dressing room before his first round victory in Sheffield. The 44-year-old saw off England’s Martin Gould 10-7 at the Crucible Theatre to begin his bid for a fourth title.

Neil Robertson reckons his Welsh Open triumph will be ideal preparation as he looks to regain the world crown from Mark Williams. The Aussie got his hands on the Ray Reardon trophy after fending off Stuart Bingham’s fight-back in Cardiff, winning 9-7. And already his thoughts are turning to Sheffield in April when he hopes to regain the World Championship title won so memorably last year by Wales ace Mark Williams.

Mark Williams has confessed he has work ahead of him if he is to avoid an embarrassing defence of his snooker world title. Wales’ world champion of the green baize crashed out of the Masters tournament on Tuesday night and admitted he had hardly practised prior to the event. Neil Robertson produced a run of five straight frames to knock Williams out of the London event with a 6-3 first-round win at Alexandra Palace.

Bridgend legend Gareth Williams will be remembered in a special match at the Brewery Field on Friday night. The former Wales and British & Irish Lions forward died in May this year after a long, brave battle against the debilitating disease, Multiple System Atrophy. He was only 63. But while ‘Sam’, as he was known throughout the rugby playing world, may no longer be with us, his legacy lives on through his children, who have set an ambitious £100,000 target to raise money to help others who find themselves in the same position as their beloved father.

Mark Williams believes he is as good now as he’s ever been as he climbs back towards the number one spot in the world. The Welshman moved to the No.2 spot in the snooker rankings – behind only Mark Selby – after winning the World Open in China last Sunday where he beat David Gilbert, 10-9 in a thrilling final. Following on the back of his incredible comeback world title victory earlier this year, the 43-year-old from Cwm has leapfrogged Ronnie O’Sullivan and could regain top spot later this year – 19 years after he first arrived as the leading player on the planet.

After one of the greatest finals in its history, Mark Williams is world snooker champion again after beating John Higgins, 18-16 at the Crucible. It’s a comeback story to end them all – bridging a 15 year gap since 43-year-old Williams last won the title. It also continues Wales’ proud history in the sport as Rob Cole outlines. The World Professional Snooker title used to be the preserve of the Davises, but the Williamses have now well and truly muscled in on the act. Mark Williams picked up a cheque for £425,000 for his 18-16 win over John Higgins to bridge a 15 year gap from his second win. Not bad for someone who didn’t even qualify for the 2017 event, watched it on TV “with a few beers in a caravan” and was close to quitting last year.

The last time Mark Williams was snooker world champion, Swansea City were at the bottom of the Football League, Robert Earnshaw was scoring 30 goals in League Two for Cardiff City, and Steve Hansen was still the Wales rugby coach. But as Simon Kendal-Williams reports, sometimes the clocks can go backwards. What a difference a year makes. Following defeat to Stuart Carrington in the final qualifying round of the 2017 world championship, Mark Williams seriously contemplated walking away from the sport he had graced for more than 25 years.