History of Mark Williams (snooker player) in Timeline

Mark Williams is a highly accomplished Welsh professional snooker player, renowned as a three-time World Champion (2000, 2003, 2018). He reached the world number one ranking multiple times. Notably, he achieved the Triple Crown in the 2002-03 season, joining Davis and Hendry as the only players to win all three events in a single season. He uniquely holds all three world championship titles: the World Snooker Championship, Six-red World Championship, and World Seniors Championship.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles

March 1975: Mark Williams' Birth

On March 1975, Mark James Williams, a Welsh professional snooker player, was born.

1978: Oldest Winner since Reardon

At 43 years of age, Williams became the oldest winner since Reardon, who had won the title in 1978 aged 45.

1982: Ray Reardon's Record

In 1982, Ray Reardon was 50 years and 14 days old when he won the Professional Players Tournament.

1982: Reardon played the final of the World Championship

In 1982, Reardon was 49 when he played the final of the World Championship. In 2025, Williams surpassed this record to become the oldest player to reach the final of the World Championship.

1982: Reardon won the 1982 Professional Players Tournament

In 1982, Reardon was 50 years and 14 days old when he won the Professional Players Tournament. In 2025, Mark Williams surpassed this record to become the oldest player to win a ranking event.

January 1991: Reached World Masters Junior Final

In January 1991, Mark Williams reached the final of the junior event at the World Masters, losing to John Higgins.

1992: Start of professional career

From 1992, Mark Williams professional snooker career started.

1992: Turned Professional

In 1992, Mark Williams was one of 173 players who turned professional. He finished his first season ranked 119th out of 595 professional players.

1992: Part of the 'Class of '92'

Mark Williams is one of the three players collectively known as the "Class of '92" who all turned professional during the 1992–93 season.

January 1996: First Ranking Tournament Win

In January 1996, Mark Williams achieved his first ranking tournament win at the Welsh Open, defeating John Parrott.

October 1996: Won the Grand Prix

In October 1996, Mark Williams won the first ranking event of the new season, the Grand Prix, defeating Euan Henderson.

1996: Absence from the 1996 World Championship main stage

Before 2014, the last time Mark Williams had been absent from the main stage of the World Championship was in 1996.

April 1997: Won the British Open

In April 1997, Mark Williams won the British Open, defeating Stephen Hendry.

1997: 1997 World Championship

Since his first appearance at the tournament in 1997, Mark Williams only had one other absence from the knockout stage of the World Championship until 2017.

February 1998: First Masters Title

In February 1998, Mark Williams secured his first Masters title, defeating Stephen Hendry in a black-ball finish.

1998: Won the Masters Tournament

In 1998, Mark Williams achieved victory in 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 reached the final of the World Championship but finished as runner-up to Stephen Hendry.

1999: Won UK Championship

In 1999, Mark Williams won the UK Championship.

May 2000: Ranked World Number One

In May 2000, Mark Williams was ranked the world number one snooker player for the first time.

2000: Won the Grand Prix and Runner-Up in Two Events

In 2000, Mark Williams won the Grand Prix with a victory over Ronnie O'Sullivan. He was also a runner-up in the UK Championship, losing to John Higgins, and the China Open, beaten by Ronnie O'Sullivan.

2000: Won World Championship

In 2000, Mark Williams won the World Championship, recovering from behind to defeat Matthew Stevens in the final. He became the first left-handed player to win the World Championship at The Crucible.

2000: 2015 World Championship rematch with Stevens

In 2015, Mark Williams faced Stevens in the first round of the World Championship, a rematch of the 2000 final, but he was heavily defeated 2‍–‍10.

2001: Lost in Second Round of World Championship

In 2001, Mark Williams's title defense at the World Championship ended in the second round with a defeat to Joe Swail.

May 2002: Continued Reign as World Number One

May 2002 marked the end of a period where Mark Williams held the world number one ranking in snooker.

2002: Record set by Hendry for centuries in a single World Championship

In 2002, Hendry set the record for most centuries in a single World Championship. Mark Williams equaled this record in 2022.

2002: Second UK Championship Win

In 2002, Mark Williams secured his second UK Championship title.

2002: Won China Open and Lost Number One Ranking

In 2002, Mark Williams won the China Open but was later defeated in the second round of the World Championship and lost his number one world ranking to O'Sullivan.

May 2003: Regained World Number One Ranking

In May 2003, Mark Williams regained the world number one ranking in snooker.

2003: Lost in First Round of UK Championship

In 2003, Mark Williams lost in the first round of the UK Championship to Fergal O'Brien, ending his record run of 48 tournaments in which he had won his first match.

2003: Semi-Finals in 2003 World Snooker Championship

In 2003, Mark Williams reached the semi-final stage of the World Snooker Championship.

2003: Second World Championship Title

In 2003, Mark Williams won his second World Championship title.

2003: Won Masters and World Championship

In 2003, Mark Williams won the Masters, beating Stephen Hendry, and the World Championship, beating Ken Doherty after recovering from a comeback.

2003: 2015 Welsh Open

In 2015, Mark Williams earned a place in the semi-finals of the Welsh Open for the first time since 2003.

2003: World Championship Final Since 2003

In 2018, Mark Williams reached his first World Championship final since 2003.

February 2004: Lost in Quarter-Finals of the Masters

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

May 2004: End of Second Reign as World Number One

May 2004 marked the end of Mark Williams's second stint as the world number one ranked snooker player.

2004: Awarded a Member of the Order of the British Empire

In 2004, Mark Williams was awarded a Member of the Order of the British Empire.

April 2005: Maximum Break at World Championship

On April 20, 2005, at the World Championship, Mark Williams achieved a maximum break in the final frame of his first-round victory over Robert Milkins, winning £161,000, but lost in the second round to Ian McCulloch.

2005: Parted Company with Coach

It was revealed during the 2005–06 season that Mark Williams and his coach Terry Griffiths had parted company.

March 2006: Won China Open

On March 26, 2006, Mark Williams won the 2006 China Open in Beijing, defeating John Higgins, helping him retain his top-16 place in the world rankings.

September 2006: Won Pot Black Trophy

In September 2006, Mark Williams won the Pot Black trophy and compiled a century break of 119, the highest break in the tournament's history.

2006: Ranking Event Quarter-Finals drought

In the 2013–14 season, Mark Williams had a poor season in ranking events, failing to reach a single quarter-final for the first time since 2006‍–‍07.

2007: UK Championship Run

At the 2007 UK Championship, Mark Williams defeated Ricky Walden and Mark Allen before losing in the quarter-finals to Stephen Maguire.

2007: Dropped out of Top 16

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

2007: Birth of second son

In 2007, Mark Williams and his wife Joanne welcomed their second son.

July 2008: Split from Management Company

On July 8, 2008, it was announced that Mark Williams had split from his management company 110 Sport.

2008: UK Championship Quarter-Finals

In 2008, Mark Williams reached the quarter-finals of the UK Championship, defeating Mark Selby and Graeme Dott before losing to Ali Carter.

2009: Wrist Injury and Grand Prix Semi-Final

In 2009, Mark Williams broke his wrist in a fall and reached the semi-finals of the Grand Prix, where he lost to Ding Junhui after making a 142 century break. Also at the 2009 UK Championship he lost against Peter Lines.

2009: World Championship Loss

In 2009, Mark Williams qualified for the World Championship but lost to Stephen Hendry, hampered by cue tip problems.

2009: Regained Top 16 Place

In 2009, Mark Williams regained his place in the top 16 rankings.

April 2010: Williams Wins 2010 China Open

In April 2010, Mark Williams won the 2010 China Open, marking his first ranking tournament victory in four years. He defeated Ding Junhui in the final with a score of 10‍–‍6, recovering from a 3-5 deficit. This win was Williams' 17th ranking event title and his third China Open title.

2010: Masters Quarter-Finals and Traffic Accident

At the 2010 Masters, Mark Williams progressed to the quarter-finals after winning against Ali Carter, despite being involved in a traffic accident the day before the match, and then narrowly lost 5-6 by O'Sullivan in the semi-finals.

2010: Became co-owner of Tredegar Snooker Hall

In 2010, Mark Williams became co-owner of Tredegar Snooker Hall. He also enjoys playing golf and poker.

2010: 2010-11 Season

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. Williams also competed in the 2010 Premier League but failed to qualify for the semi-finals. He reached the final of the 2010 UK Championship, losing to Higgins 9‍–‍10 after leading 7‍–‍2 and 9‍–‍5.

May 2011: Returned to World Number One Ranking

In May 2011, Mark Williams once again achieved the world number one ranking in snooker.

September 2011: End of Third Reign as World Number One

September 2011 marked the end of Mark Williams's third period as the world number one ranked snooker player.

2011: 2011 Masters and German Masters wins

In 2011, Mark Williams lost in the first round of the Masters against Ding. He won the German Masters, defeating Selby 9‍–‍7 in the final. At the 2011 China Open, he lost in the first round against Lee. At the 2011 World Snooker Championship, he reached the semi-final stage for the first time since 2003 and became the new world number one after the event.

2011: Married Joanne

In 2011, Mark Williams married his partner Joanne.

2011: 2011 World Cup, Australian Goldfields Open and Shanghai Masters

In 2011, Mark Williams represented Wales at the World Cup, reaching the semi-finals. He lost in the final of the Australian Goldfields Open against Bingham, and also lost in the final of the Shanghai Masters against Selby. With the loss, he also relinquished the world number one spot to Selby.

2011: Won German Masters

In 2011, Mark Williams won the German Masters tournament.

2012: Poor Performance in 2012/13

Due to his poor performance in 2012‍–‍13, Williams dropped 12 places in the rankings to world number 15.

2012: Controversy and Hall of Fame Induction in 2012

In 2012, Mark Williams generated controversy with comments about the World Snooker Championship venue. He was fined £4,000. Also in 2012, Williams was inducted into the World Snooker Tour Hall of Fame.

2012: 2012 Wuxi Classic and Shanghai Masters

In 2012, Mark Williams played at the 2012 Wuxi Classic, where he lost in the quarter-finals. He reached the semi-finals at the 2012 Shanghai Masters. After his defeat in the 2012 UK Championship, he said that he was contemplating retirement.

2012: 2012 German Masters

In 2012, Mark Williams reached the quarter-finals in his defence of the 2012 German Masters, where he succumbed 3‍–‍5 to Lee.

2013: 2013-14 Season start

At the start of the 2013–14 season, Mark Williams won the Rotterdam Open, marking his second title in a Players Tour Championship event.

2013: 2013 Masters, German Masters, China Open and World Championship

In 2013, Mark Williams beat Stevens in the non-ranking Masters before losing to Selby. He was beaten by Michael Holt in the German Masters. At the 2013 China Open in March, Williams won his first match in a ranking event since September. At the 2013 World Championship, he lost and admitted he could not wait to forget the season.

2014: 2014 World Championship

At the 2014 World Championship, Mark Williams lost in qualifying and was absent from the main stage of the tournament for the first time since 1996.

2014: Birth of third son

In 2014, Mark Williams and his wife Joanne welcomed their third son.

2014: 2014 Season

In 2014, Mark Williams reached the quarter-final of the International Championship, beating O'Sullivan. He was defeated by Maguire in the third round of the 2014 UK Championship.

March 2015: 2015 World Seniors Championship

In March 2015, Mark Williams participated in the World Seniors Championship and won the title by beating O'Brien in the final.

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: 2015 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 he lost to Perry 4‍–‍3. He also faced Stevens in the first round of the 2015 World Championship, but he was heavily defeated 2‍–‍10.

2016: 2016 Northern Ireland Open and UK Championship

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

2016: 2016 Masters, Welsh Open and World Championship

In 2016, Mark Williams drew O'Sullivan in the first round of the Masters and lost in a deciding frame. He was eliminated in 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 heavily defeated by Ding.

2017: 2017 China Open and World Championship

In 2017, Mark Williams reached the final of the China Open but lost to Selby. He reached the last-32 qualifying round at the World Championship but was defeated.

2017: 2017 Career Revival

In 2017, Mark Williams teamed up with Lee Walker to revive his career. He won the Six-red World Championship and the Northern Ireland Open, marking his first ranking title after a six-year drought.

2017: Won Northern Ireland Open

In 2017, Mark Williams won the Northern Ireland Open.

2018: 2018 World Championship Win

In 2018, Mark Williams advanced to the semi-finals of the World Championship. He reached his first World Championship final since 2003, winning 18‍–‍16 against Higgins to claim his third world title. Aged 43, he became the oldest winner since Reardon in 1978.

2018: 2018 Masters and German Masters

In 2018, Mark Williams defeated Selby at the Masters, before losing to Kyren Wilson in the quarter-finals. At the German Masters, he beat Trump to reach the final where he faced Dott. Williams dominated the final, making six breaks over 50 and one century to claim a 9‍–‍1 victory.

2018: Won the 2018 World Open

In 2018, Mark Williams, as world champion, won the World Open after recovering from deficits in multiple matches, including the final against David Gilbert where he came back from 5‍–‍9 down to win 10‍–‍9.

2018: Won German Masters and Third World Title

The 2017-2018 season was very successful for Mark Williams, winning the 2018 German Masters and his third world title at the Crucible.

2019: Lost at the 2019 Masters and World Championship

In 2019, Mark Williams lost 3‍–‍6 to Robertson at the Masters, despite leading 3-1. His title defense at the World Championship ended in the second round with a 9‍–‍13 loss to Gilbert.

2019: Reached China Championship Final and Expressed Dislike for Snooker

In 2019, Mark Williams reached the final of the China Championship, losing a close deciding frame to Murphy after trailing 5-9. During the 2019 UK Championship, he expressed his dislike for snooker.

2020: Third-Oldest World Title Winner

As of 2020, Mark Williams is now the third-oldest winner of a world title in the modern era.

2020: Lost in Masters and World Championship Quarter-Finals

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

August 2021: Won the 2021 British Open

In August 2021, Mark Williams secured his 24th ranking title by defeating Gary Wilson in the final of the British Open.

2021: Won the 2021 WST Pro Series

In 2021, Mark Williams won the WST Pro Series, marking his first title in three years. He also defeated Higgins in the second round of the World Championship before losing in the quarter-finals to Selby. During the championship, a controversial safety shot led to discussions about potentially banning the shot.

2022: Lost in the first round of the UK Championship

At the end of 2022, Mark Williams lost in the first round of the UK Championship to Jamie Clarke, reportedly feeling unwell.

2022: Reached Semi-Finals of 2022 World Championship

In 2022, Mark Williams reached the semi-finals of the World Championship, losing to Trump in a close match. He also equalled the record for centuries in a single World Championship, compiling 16 centuries.

October 2023: Won the 2023 British Open

In October 2023, Mark Williams won the British Open, defeating Selby in the final to become the second-oldest winner of a ranking event at that time.

2023: Reached Final of the 2023 Masters

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

January 2024: Lost in the first round of the Masters

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

September 2024: Reached Final of Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters

In September 2024, Mark Williams reached the final of the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters, where he was defeated by Trump in a close match.

March 2025: Century maker

As of March 2025, Mark Williams is tenth on the all-time list of century makers, having compiled more than 600 competitive centuries during his professional career.

2025: Oldest Player to Reach World Championship Final

At the 2025 World Championship, Mark Williams, aged 50, became the oldest player to reach the final of the tournament and became the oldest winner of a ranking event at the 2025 Xi'an Grand Prix.

2025: Lost in the first round of the Masters

In 2025, Mark Williams lost in the first round of the Masters to Ding.

2025: Won the 2025 Xi'an Grand Prix

In 2025, Mark Williams won the Xi'an Grand Prix, becoming the oldest player ever to win a ranking event at 50 years old, surpassing Reardon's record from 1982. He also became the first player to win professional titles in his teens, 20s, 30s, 40s, and 50s.

2025: Reached the final of the 2025 World Championship

In 2025, despite eyesight issues, Mark Williams reached the semi-finals and then the final of the World Championship, becoming the oldest player to do so at age 50, surpassing Reardon's record from 1982. Ultimately, he lost to Zhao Xintong in the final.