In Praise of Mark Williams: The Welsh legend Rewriting Snooker History at 50

Mark Williams. Pic: Alamy

Mark Williams is the Welsh sporting legend who is defying the march of time.

Williams has etched his name even deeper into the history of snooker — and Welsh sport — after claiming the Xi’an Grand Prix in China and becoming the oldest winner of a ranking event.

The three-time world champion produced a masterclass in control and composure to sweep aside Shaun Murphy 10–3 in the final, sealing a 27th ranking title and £177,000 in prize money.

At 50 years and 206 days old, Williams surpassed the long-standing record held by his compatriot and hero Ray Reardon, who was 50 years and 14 days old when he won the Professional Players Tournament — now the Players Championship — in 1982.

In doing so, Williams not only eclipsed one of the most enduring marks in the game but also became the first player ever to win a ranking title in five different decades — his teens, 20s, 30s, 40s and now 50s.

The victory was another glittering chapter in a career defined by longevity, flair and understated brilliance — and a performance that confirmed his place among the sport’s immortals.

“It’s unbelievable. I cannot honestly believe how I’m still winning tournaments, it’s amazing,” Williams told the World Snooker Tour. “I don’t know how I’m doing it, I’ve got to be honest. I’m not practicing enough to really compete in the latter stages of tournaments because I just can’t do it these days.

“But here I am at the venue trying to play as much as I can and you’ve got to scrape me off the table until that last ball is potted. I just seem to be scraping results and playing well in the final.”

A masterclass on the biggest stage

Williams was in vintage form from the start of the final at the Qujiang Sports Complex, racing into a commanding 7–1 lead with a string of heavy scoring that left Murphy reeling.

Breaks of 75, 73 and 68 underlined his precision, before a sublime 127 closed the opening session in style. When play resumed, a 122 clearance in the first frame of the evening reasserted his dominance.

Murphy briefly rallied with two frames on the bounce to reduce the deficit, but any hopes of a comeback were quickly extinguished as Williams sealed the match with confident runs of 65 and 61.

“It’s just nice to be in a final, and to win a tournament would be great,” Williams had said earlier in the week after a 6–3 semi-final win over fellow Welshman Daniel Wells. “At the start of this week if you had offered me the quarter-finals I would have bitten your hand off, so for the final I would have bitten your whole body off.”

Breaking records, defying time

The Xi’an triumph carried extra poignancy as it came just months after Williams had reached the World Championship final, where he lost to China’s Zhao Xintong. It also marked his first title since the Tour Championship in April 2024 — proof that even after three decades on tour, he remains a force capable of beating anyone, anywhere.

Williams himself was typically modest about breaking Reardon’s 43-year-old record. “Being the oldest at something, it’s not really a record is it?,” he joked. “I suppose if I take it, Ronnie or John Higgins will beat it in a few months’ time.”

His self-effacing humour and quiet pride have long been hallmarks of a player who has let his cue do the talking. The Cwm-born cueist has now achieved what few athletes in any sport can — remaining competitive at the top level across generations.

Former British Open champion Fergal O’Brien hailed the performance on TNT Sports: “He (Williams) was a clear second favourite coming into the final. To win against very much the man in form, and to win 10–3, it’s a remarkable performance.”

A legacy beyond trophies

Williams’ career, stretching back to his teenage debut in the early 1990s, has been one of quiet excellence and enduring relevance. From his first ranking title as a 19-year-old to his world titles in 2000, 2003 and 2018, he has combined natural talent with an unflappable temperament that continues to inspire new generations of players.

His latest triumph ensures that his name now sits alongside the greatest Welsh sporting icons — not just in snooker, but across all disciplines. Like Gareth Bale, Geraint Thomas and Ryan Giggs, Williams has transcended his sport to become part of the nation’s cultural fabric.

What makes this latest victory all the more remarkable is not just his age, but his attitude. The humility in his words contrasts sharply with the scale of his achievement — a man still driven by the simple love of competition.

As he lifted the trophy in Xi’an, 31 years after first joining the professional circuit, it was clear that Mark Williams has nothing left to prove. Yet, somehow, he keeps finding new ways to make history.

“It’s amazing,” he said, smiling. “I just seem to be scraping results and playing well in the final.”

Scraping results? Perhaps. But this was something far greater — a testament to talent, tenacity, and the timeless genius of a true Welsh sporting legend.