Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Mark Williams (snooker player)
From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Mark Williams (snooker player) made an impact.
Mark Williams is a Welsh professional snooker player, a three-time World Champion (2000, 2003, 2018), and a former world number one. He achieved a Triple Crown in the 2002-03 season, winning the UK Championship, the Masters, and the World Championship, becoming only the third player to accomplish this feat. He uniquely holds all three versions of the professional world championship titles: the World Snooker Championship, the Six-red World Championship, and the World Seniors Championship.
1991: Reached final of junior event at World Masters
In 1991, Mark Williams reached the final of the junior event at the World Masters, losing to John Higgins. He also won the British Under-16 title, defeating Higgins.
1992: Became a professional player
In 1992, Mark Williams became a professional snooker player.
1992: Turned professional
In 1992, Mark Williams turned professional, becoming part of the "Class of '92" with Ronnie O'Sullivan and John Higgins.
January 1996: Won Welsh Open
In January 1996, Mark Williams won the Welsh Open, securing his first ranking tournament win.
October 1996: Won Grand Prix
In October 1996, Mark Williams won the Grand Prix, marking his first ranking event win of the new season.
1996: Absent from the World Championship
In 2014, Mark Williams was absent from the World Championship for the first time since 1996.
April 1997: Won British Open
In April 1997, Mark Williams won the British Open, defeating Stephen Hendry in the final.
1997: Missed second World Championship since 1997
In 2017, Mark Williams missed only his second World Championship since he had made his first appearance at the tournament in 1997.
February 1998: Won first Masters title
In February 1998, Mark Williams secured his first Masters title, defeating Stephen Hendry in a close final.
1998: Won the Masters tournament
In 1998, Mark Williams won the Masters tournament.
November 1999: Won UK Championship
In November 1999, Mark Williams won the UK Championship, defeating Matthew Stevens in the final.
1999: Runner-up at World Championship
In 1999, Mark Williams finished as runner-up at the World Championship, losing to Stephen Hendry in the final.
1999: World number one
In 1999, Mark Williams was ranked the world number one player for the first time.
1999: Won UK Championship
In 1999, Mark Williams won the UK Championship.
2000: Won Grand Prix and runner-up in other events
In 2000, Mark Williams won the Grand Prix but was a runner-up in the UK Championship and the China Open.
2000: World Champion
In 2000, Mark Williams won the World Championship for the first time.
2000: Rematch of 2000 final
In 2015, Mark Williams played Matthew Stevens in the first round of the World Championship, a rematch of the 2000 final, and was defeated.
2001: Lost World Championship title defense
In 2001, Mark Williams' title defense at the World Championship ended in the second round.
2002: Equalled Stephen Hendry's record
During the 2002 World Championship, Mark Williams equalled Stephen Hendry's record for compiling 16 centuries in a single World Championship.
2002: Ranked world number one
In 2002, Mark Williams was ranked the world number one player.
2002: Won China Open
In 2002, Mark Williams won the China Open but lost the number one world ranking.
2003: Lost in first round of UK Championship
In 2003, Mark Williams lost in the first round of the UK Championship, ending his record run of 48 tournaments in which he had won his first match.
2003: Reached semi-final stage for first time since 2003
In 2003, Mark Williams reached the semi-final stage of the World Snooker Championship, marking his first time in the stage since 2003.
2003: Won Masters and World Championship
In 2003, Mark Williams won the Masters and the World Championship, completing the Triple Crown. He also reclaimed the number one spot.
2003: Won the Masters tournament
In 2003, Mark Williams won the Masters tournament for the second time.
2003: World Champion
In 2003, Mark Williams won the World Championship for the second time.
2003: Semi-final of the Welsh Open
In 2015, Mark Williams reached the semi-finals of the Welsh Open for the first time since 2003.
2003: First World Championship Final Since 2003
In 2018, Mark Williams reached his first World Championship final since 2003.
February 2004: Lost in quarter-final of Masters
In February 2004, Mark Williams was unable to defend his title at the Masters, losing in the quarter-final.
April 2005: Scored maximum break at World Championship
On April 20, 2005, Mark Williams scored a maximum break at the Crucible in the World Championship, winning a significant prize, but lost in the second round.
March 2006: Won China Open
On March 26, 2006, Mark Williams won the China Open in Beijing, marking his 16th ranking event victory and helping him retain his place in the top 16.
September 2006: Won Pot Black trophy
On September 2, 2006, Mark Williams won the Pot Black trophy, compiling a century break in the final.
2007: Worst season of career
In 2007, Mark Williams had perhaps the worst season of his career, losing his first match in several tournaments.
2007: UK Championship Performance
In 2007, at the UK Championship, Mark Williams showed a return to some form, reaching the quarter-finals.
2008: Reached quarter-finals of UK Championship
In 2008, Mark Williams reached the quarter-finals of the UK Championship.
2009: Qualified for World Championship
In 2009, Mark Williams qualified for the World Championship but lost in the first round.
2009: Regained place in top 16
Mark Williams regained his place in the top 16 for the 2009–10 season.
April 2010: Won China Open
In April 2010, Mark Williams won the China Open, marking his first ranking tournament win in four years.
2010: Co-ownership of Tredegar Snooker Hall
In 2010, Mark Williams became co-owner of Tredegar Snooker Hall in Georgetown, Blaenau Gwent.
2010: Won Players Tour Championship and reached UK Championship final
In 2010, Mark Williams won the first event of the Players Tour Championship and reached the final of the UK Championship, ultimately losing to John Higgins.
2011: 2011 World Cup
In 2011, Mark Williams, partnered with Matthew Stevens, represented Wales at the World Cup, reaching the semi-finals.
2012: German Masters
In 2012, Mark Williams reached the quarter-finals of the German Masters, but lost to Lee.
2012: 2012 Wuxi Classic and Shanghai Masters
In 2012, Mark Williams reached the quarter-finals of the Wuxi Classic and the semi-finals of the Shanghai Masters. Following a loss at the UK Championship he contemplated retirement.
July 2013: Won the Rotterdam Open
In July 2013, Mark Williams won the Rotterdam Open, defeating Mark Selby in the final.
2013: Masters and German Masters
In 2013, Mark Williams beat Stevens in the Masters, but lost to Selby. He also lost in the last 32 of the German Masters to Michael Holt.
2014: 2014 International Championship
In 2014, Mark Williams reached his first quarter-final of the season at the International Championship, defeating O'Sullivan for the first time in 12 years.
2014: Welsh Open and World Championship
In 2014, Mark Williams secured a win over Neil Robertson at the Welsh Open, but lost to Marco Fu in the last 16. He also failed to qualify for the World Championship for the first time since 1996.
2015: Players Championship Grand Final
In 2015, Mark Williams reached his first major ranking event final in over three years at the Players Championship Grand Final, but lost to Joe Perry.
2015: Welsh Open and World Seniors Championship
In 2015, Mark Williams reached the semi-finals of the Welsh Open for the first time since 2003 and won the World Seniors Championship.
2015: UK Championship
In 2015, Mark Williams was knocked out in the second round of the UK Championship.
2016: 2016 Masters and World Championship
In 2016, Mark Williams lost in the first round of the Masters and reached the quarter-finals of the World Championship for the first time in five years.
2016: Northern Ireland Open and UK Championship
In 2016, Mark Williams reached the quarter-finals of the Northern Ireland Open and the UK Championship.
2017: China Open and World Championship
In 2017, Mark Williams reached the final of the China Open but lost to Selby. He also missed the World Championship, only his second time missing the tournament since 1997.
2017: Won Northern Ireland Open
In 2017, Mark Williams won the Northern Ireland Open.
2017: Six-red World Championship and Northern Ireland Open
In 2017, Mark Williams won the Six-red World Championship and the Northern Ireland Open, his first ranking title in six years.
2018: 2018 World Open win
As world champion, Williams won the second event of the new season, the 2018 World Open.
2018: Masters and German Masters
In 2018, Mark Williams defeated Mark Selby at the Masters and won the German Masters.
2018: Won third world title in 2018
In 2018, Mark Williams won his third world title, defeating John Higgins in the final. At 43, he became the oldest winner since Ray Reardon in 1978.
2019: Masters and World Championship
In 2019, Mark Williams lost to Neil Robertson at the Masters and lost to Gilbert at the World Championship.
2019: China Championship and UK Championship
In 2019, Mark Williams reached the final of the China Championship and commented that he hates snooker during the UK Championship.
2020: 2020 Masters and World Championship
In 2020, Mark Williams admitted his career was at a crossroads after losing at the Masters and reached the quarter-finals of the World Championship.
August 2021: British Open victory
In August 2021, Mark Williams won his 24th ranking title, defeating Gary Wilson 6–4 in the final of the British Open.
2021: 2021 WST Pro Series win
In 2021, Mark Williams won the WST Pro Series, his first title for three years. He also caused controversy at the World Championship with a safety shot.
2022: Masters and World Championship performances
In 2022, Mark Williams reached the semi-finals of the Masters, losing to Neil Robertson. Also in 2022, he reached the semi-finals of the World Championship, losing to Judd Trump in a close deciding frame.
October 2023: British Open Victory in Cheltenham
In October 2023, Mark Williams defeated Mark Selby 10–7 in the final of the British Open in Cheltenham to become the second-oldest winner of a ranking event.
2023: Masters and World Championship results
In 2023, Mark Williams reached the final of the Masters where he was defeated 8-10 by Judd Trump and was eliminated in the second round of the 2023 World Championship by Luca Brecel, 11–13.
September 2024: Lost final of the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters
In September 2024, Mark Williams reached the final of the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters where he was defeated 9–10 by Judd Trump.
2024: Won Tour Championship
In 2024, Mark Williams won the Tour Championship.
March 2025: Century makers list
As of March 2025 Mark Williams is tied ninth on the all-time list of century makers.
