Williams' Determination for Fourth World Title
"I'm still fighting," declares three-time world champion Mark Williams as he pursues a fourth world snooker title.
Williams expressed his determination with a striking promise:
"I'd run down the M4 from London to Cardiff naked."This bold statement reflects his commitment to securing another world championship. When he last won at the Crucible in 2018, he fulfilled a similar vow by appearing naked at his post-match press conference.
In 2018, Williams defeated John Higgins 17-15 in the final, adding to his previous world titles won in 2000 and 2003. Prior to this year's tournament, he acknowledged the challenge ahead:
"I'd do anything to get another title but the years go by and you're less likely to win it."
A victory this year would not only likely cause disruption on the motorway due to his promise but also see Williams surpass Ronnie O'Sullivan as the oldest ever world champion.
Williams, 51, hails from the small village of Cwm near Ebbw Vale in south Wales. He came close to this milestone last year when he reached the final as the oldest ever finalist but was defeated 18-12 by Zhao Xintong, who made history as the first Chinese and Asian world champion.
Health Challenges
Williams reached the 2025 final despite facing deteriorating eyesight and is currently awaiting lens replacement surgery. He expressed concerns about the procedure:
"If it goes wrong, that's the end. That's the only thing stopping me. I spoke to [former player] Anthony Hamilton, who also had it done, and because of the glare of the TV lights, it ruined his career."
He added,
"Eventually I'll get my eyes done but whether or not that's this year, next year, I don't know."
In addition to his eyesight issues, Williams revealed struggles with the 'yips'—a sudden and unexplained loss of certain skills—after the Tour Championship in Manchester earlier this year. He described his current state:
"It's a bit concerning. I'm like a paranoid mess at the minute, because I'm just thinking, I'm not going to screw it back, and I'm snatching. And yeah, it's not great, but I need the practise to get out of it."
He further explained his approach to overcoming this:
"I'm not putting in enough work. I'm going to come in now and try and play most days until the world championship just to try and get that timing back."
Recent Achievements and Future Ambitions
Williams' cautiousness about undergoing surgery indicates his desire to continue competing at a high level for years to come. In October 2025, at 50 years and 206 days old, he became the oldest winner of a ranking event by defeating Shaun Murphy at the Xi'an Grand Prix, surpassing the record set in 1982 by fellow Welshman Ray Reardon.
Having recently turned 51, Williams is ranked sixth in the world as he enters this year's World Championship.
Reflecting on his career, he said:
"When I was 45 I said I'd like to see where I am in the rankings when I'm 50."He also confirmed his intention to continue playing:
"I'm not retiring, I made that decision years ago. Let's see where I am in the rankings at 55, that'll be interesting."
Despite his determination, Williams remains realistic about his prospects at the Crucible this year:
"I'm still fighting. I'm still trying and that's all I can say. I try my best in every tournament and if you win, great, if you lose, that's not the end of the world."
He shared insights into his lifelong dedication to the sport:
"I've been doing this since I was an eight-year-old kid. My father was going down the mines for 30 years, my grandfather for 50 years. I'm just travelling around the world playing the stupid game of snooker, getting paid well for it and enjoying it. You can't put too much pressure on yourself."
Relationship with the Crucible Venue
Williams has expressed mixed feelings about the Crucible Theatre but welcomed the announcement that the World Championship will remain at the Sheffield venue until at least 2045. He stated:
"It's good. I've always said the Crucible is not my favourite venue but without doubt the World Championships should stay there."
He added:
"It's the home of snooker and there's no atmosphere like it. It's perfect as it is."
The Welsh Potting Machine will begin his quest for a fourth world title on Saturday, 18 May, facing qualifier Antoni Kowalski in the opening round. Should he reach the final on 4 May, he may need to fulfill his promise of running the M4 naked, demonstrating his commitment to making history once again.
