Mark Williams Reveals His True Colours in Quarter-Finals Showdown Against John Higgins
The 2025 World Snooker Championship has reached an intense stage at the Crucible Theatre, as the final eight competitors vie for a coveted place in the semi-finals. Among the highlights of this year’s quarter-finals is the captivating contest between seasoned champions and long-time rivals Mark Williams and John Higgins, who find themselves inseparable on the scoreboard heading into what promises to be a thrilling conclusion.
Both Williams and Higgins are members of snooker’s celebrated ‘Class of ’92’, alongside Ronnie O’Sullivan. Over the years, these sporting titans have faced each other across the baize more times than most can recall, crafting a fierce yet respectful rivalry. Their latest encounter has proven characteristically tight, with the score delicately poised at 8-8 ahead of Wednesday’s decisive session.
While the stakes are always high at this stage, this year’s World Championship boasts a particularly enticing incentive, with £100,000 set aside for each of the semi-finalists. For Williams, who has three world titles to his name, the prospect of claiming a fourth at this hallowed venue is tantalisingly real. With every shot potentially pivotal, nerves and composure are being tested like never before.
On Tuesday, Williams demonstrated both the pressure of the occasion and his characteristic wit, displaying the honesty for which he is so well known. Attempting to build a substantial break early in the session, he was caught out by what he believed to be a “big bounce” off the bottom cushion. The resulting positional misfortune visibly frustrated the Welshman, but rather than succumb to anger, he instead offered a sarcastic thumbs up to the table—a gesture that amused the packed Sheffield crowd.
Commentators were quick to note Williams’ reaction. Neal Foulds, reporting for TNT Sports, mused, “I’m not sure if that was a big bounce or not, because it didn’t look like he’d hit it too hard.” Co-commentator Dave Hendon added: “He thinks it was, with that rather ironic thumbs up to the cushion!” The moment provided a glimpse of Williams’ light-hearted nature and his ability to defuse tension, even in the heat of battle.
Despite the frustration, Williams quickly demonstrated why he remains one of the sport’s greats. He maintained his composure to deliver a textbook safety shot, keeping Higgins under pressure and ensuring the momentum remained in the balance. The experienced 50-year-old continued to narrow the deficit, eventually coming agonisingly close to a century break in the opening frame of the session—a sign of both form and determination.
Throughout the session, Williams’ temperament was lauded by the commentators. “This is where temperament is so important,” reflected Hendon. “Even early on in a session, a lot of players, that would really affect them. The sense of injustice. He was annoyed, you can see that, but he has the mindset to put it to one side.” Williams’ ability to manage the emotional swings of top-level snooker continues to distinguish him from his peers.
Elsewhere in the championship, former world No.6 Zhao Xintong—fresh from a lengthy ban and now competing as an amateur—was closing in on a semi-final berth by comfortably seeing off Chris Wakelin. Meanwhile, snooker icons Ronnie O’Sullivan and Judd Trump maintained their leads over Si Jiahui and Luca Brecel, respectively, keeping alive the possibility of another major final for either or both stars.
As the tournament enters its decisive phase, all eyes are fixed on the Higgins–Williams match. With the scores level as the players return, both know that every mistake could prove costly, while every bold pot or clever safety could tip the contest their way. In true Crucible tradition, the battle promises to provide high drama and world-class snooker, as these charismatic former world champions show precisely why they continue to command the sport’s spotlight.
Fans and neutrals alike will be watching with keen interest as the quarter-finals conclude, eager to see whether Williams’ humour and resilience will propel him towards a fourth world title, or whether Higgins will once again demonstrate his formidable credentials under the Crucible’s unforgiving glare. Whichever way the contest falls, it seems certain that snooker’s ‘Class of ’92’ will continue to enthral for as long as they remain at the table.