Challenges in the Life of Mark Williams (snooker player) in a Detailed Timeline

Life is full of challenges, and Mark Williams (snooker player) faced many. Discover key struggles and how they were overcome.

Mark Williams is a Welsh professional snooker player, renowned as a three-time World Champion (2000, 2003, 2018) and a former world number one. His career peaked in the 2002-03 season when he secured snooker's Triple Crown, winning the UK Championship, the Masters, and the World Championship, a feat only achieved by Steve Davis and Stephen Hendry before him. Notably, he's the sole player to have triumphed in all three professional World Championship versions: the World Snooker Championship, the Six-red World Championship, and the World Seniors Championship, solidifying his place as a snooker legend.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles

1996: Absent from the main stage of the tournament since 1996

At the 2014 World Championship, Williams lost in qualifying and was absent from the main stage of the tournament for the first time since 1996. He ended the season as world number 18.

1997: Missed the World Championship Knockout Stage

In 2017, Mark Williams failed to qualify for the World Championship, marking only his second absence since his first appearance at the tournament in 1997.

2000: 2015 World Championship loss

In 2015, Mark Williams faced Matthew Stevens in the first round of the World Championship, a rematch of their 2000 final, but Williams was heavily defeated.

2003: First Round Loss at UK Championship

In 2003, Mark Williams lost in the first round of the UK Championship, ending a long run of tournament wins.

February 2004: Unable to Defend Masters Title

In February 2004, Mark Williams was unable to defend his title at the Masters, losing in the quarter-finals.

2006: Failed to reach a quarter-final

The 2013-14 season was poor in terms of ranking events, as he failed to reach a single quarter-final for the first time since 2006.

2007: Poor Season

2006-07 turned out to be one of the worst season of Mark Williams's career, as he lost his first match in a string of tournaments, including the 2007 Masters where he was whitewashed by Neil Robertson, and the 2007 World Championship where he lost to Joe Swail.

2007: Dropped out of the Top 16

Following the 2007 season, Mark Williams dropped out of the top 16 snooker players.

2009: Wrist Injury and Grand Prix Semi-Finals

In 2009, Mark Williams broke his wrist and reached the semi-finals of the Grand Prix, losing to Ding Junhui.

2010: Players Tour Championship and UK Championship

In 2010, Mark Williams began the 2010–11 season by winning the first event of the Players Tour Championship, defeating Maguire 4‍–‍0 in the final. He also competed in the 2010 Premier League, and reached the final of the 2010 UK Championship, ultimately losing to Higgins 9‍–‍10.

2011: Finals at Australian Goldfields Open and Shanghai Masters

In 2011, Mark Williams reached the final of the Australian Goldfields Open, losing 8‍–‍9 against Bingham. He also reached the final of the Shanghai Masters, losing 9‍–‍10 to Selby, after leading 9-7, and relinquished the world number one spot to Selby.

2012: Poor Performance in 2012

Due to his poor performance in 2012, Williams dropped 12 places in the rankings to world number 15 in 2013.

2012: 2012 German Masters

In 2012, Mark Williams reached the quarter-finals in his defence of the 2012 German Masters, where he lost 3‍–‍5 to Lee. He played in eleven of the twelve PTC events but did not make the Finals.

2012: Quarter-final at Shanghai Masters and contemplating retirement

In 2012, Mark Williams reached the semi-finals of the Shanghai Masters losing to Trump. He then suffered a dip in form, and after a defeat in the UK Championship, he contemplated retirement.

2013: Non-ranking 2013 Masters

In 2013, Mark Williams beat Stevens in the non-ranking 2013 Masters before losing to Selby. He won his first match in a ranking event since September at the 2013 China Open, but lost in the quarter-finals. He also lost in the first round of the 2013 World Championship.

2014: Absent from the main stage of the tournament since 1996

At the 2014 World Championship, Williams lost in qualifying and was absent from the main stage of the tournament for the first time since 1996. He ended the season as world number 18.

2014: International Championship

In 2014, Mark Williams reached the quarter-final of the International Championship, where he beat O'Sullivan for the first time in 12 years. He then lost in the semi-final against Mark Allen. He was also defeated in the third round of the 2014 UK Championship.

2015: 2015 UK Championship

At the end of 2015, Mark Williams was knocked out in the second round of the UK Championship by Tom Ford.

2015: Reaches Players Championship Grand Final

In 2015, Mark Williams progressed to his first major ranking event final in more than three years at the Players Championship Grand Final but lost to Joe Perry. In a rematch of the 2000 final, he was defeated by Matthew Stevens in the first round of the 2015 World Championship.

2016: 2016 Northern Ireland Open

In 2016, Mark Williams beat John Higgins at the Northern Ireland Open, before losing to Kyren Wilson in the quarter-finals. He also reached the quarter-final at the 2016 UK Championship but was defeated by O'Sullivan.

2016: 2016 season

In 2016, Mark Williams was eliminated in the first round of the Masters and the fourth round of the Welsh Open. At the 2016 World Championship, he reached the quarter-finals for the first time in five years, but was defeated by Ding Junhui.

2017: 2017 China Open

In 2017, Mark Williams reached the final of the China Open but lost to Selby, missing out on his first ranking title for six years. He failed to qualify for the World Championship, marking only his second absence since 1997.

2019: 2019-20 Season and China Championship Final

In 2019, Mark Williams started the season ranked third worldwide and reached the semi-finals of the Six-red World Championship. He also reached the final of the 2019 China Championship, ultimately losing to Shaun Murphy after a deciding frame.

2019: 2019 Masters and World Championship

In 2019, at the Masters, Mark Williams lost to Neil Robertson. Also in 2019, his World Championship title defence ended in the second round with a loss to David Gilbert.

2020: 2020 Masters and World Championship Quarter-Finals

In 2020, Mark Williams lost in the first round of the Masters and admitted his career was at a "crossroads". He reached the quarter-finals of the 2020 World Championship, where he lost to O'Sullivan after leading 7-2.

2022: UK Championship First Round Loss

At the end of 2022, Mark Williams lost in the first round of the UK Championship, reportedly feeling unwell during the match.

2022: 2022 Masters and World Championship Semi-Finals

In 2022, Mark Williams lost in the second round of the UK Championship. At the 2022 Masters, he lost in the semi-finals to Neil Robertson. Williams also reached the semi-finals of the 2022 World Championship, losing to Judd Trump in a close match where he equalled the record for centuries in a single tournament.

2023: 2023 Masters Final and World Championship Second Round Elimination

In 2023, Mark Williams beat Ronnie O'Sullivan for the first time in eight years at the Masters, reaching the final where he was defeated by Trump. He was later eliminated in the second round of the 2023 World Championship.

January 2024: 2024 Masters First Round Loss

In January 2024, Mark Williams lost in the first round of the Masters.

September 2024: Reached the final of the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters

In September 2024, Mark Williams reached the final of the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters but was defeated by Trump after missing a red while holding a significant lead.

2025: Lost in the first round of the 2025 Masters

In 2025, Mark Williams lost 5-6 to Ding at the first stage of the Masters.

2025: Reached the Final of the World Championship at 50

In 2025, leading up to the World Championship, Mark Williams expressed concerns about his eyesight. Despite this, he advanced to the semi-finals, overcoming John Higgins. He then beat Trump to reach the final, becoming the oldest player to do so at 50, but ultimately lost to Zhao Xintong.