As anticipation mounts ahead of the 2025 World Snooker Championship semi-finals, Judd Trump’s heartfelt tribute to his rival Mark Williams has captivated snooker fans across the globe. The pair are preparing to meet on the baize in what promises to be a thrilling encounter, with both men continuing to etch their legacies into the sport’s history books.
Trump, now 35 and affectionately nicknamed ‘The Ace in the Pack’, secured his place in the semi-finals after a dramatic fightback against Luca Brecel. Trailing in the match, Trump demonstrated his trademark resilience to clinch six consecutive frames, sealing a 13-8 victory and setting up a high-calibre clash with Williams.
Meanwhile, Mark Williams, the man known to fans as ‘The Welsh Potting Machine’, pulled off his own impressive feat by narrowly defeating John Higgins in a 13-12 quarter-final thriller. The victory not only marked Williams’ first semi-final appearance since 2022, but reignited memories of the last time these two competitors crossed paths at this stage of the tournament. On that occasion, Trump ended Williams’ campaign after an epic tussle at Sheffield’s iconic Crucible Theatre.
Speaking to BBC Sport following his quarter-final win, Trump’s respect for Williams was evident. “Last time I was in the semi-final, I think I played him,” he recalled. “It was an epic then—he obviously had an epic against John Higgins—it’s such a slog, this tournament.” Suggesting that only seasoned champions could thrive in such testing circumstances, Trump added, “Still a long way to go, but Mark is a legend of the game. I think whoever won out of John and Mark, I was gonna be happy to play if I got through. Turns out it’s Mark, and it’s going to be a great game.”
Statistically, Trump has maintained the upper hand in their head-to-head contests, boasting a 23-11 record against Williams from their 34 previous meetings. Nevertheless, the margin between the two players has often been slender, exemplified by last year’s dramatic final at the inaugural Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters, where Trump narrowly took the title 10-9.
On that occasion, despite Williams racking up three century breaks, it was Trump who emerged victorious—though not without a generous dose of praise for his adversary. In a frank interview with TNT Sports, Trump admitted, “It just shows what a champion he is, what a break he’s made in the last frame there,” further conceding, “I didn’t deserve to win.” Williams walked away with the runner-up prize, but Trump’s remarks highlighted the genuine camaraderie and mutual admiration between two of snooker’s modern greats.
The stakes for this year’s World Championship are particularly high for both men. Trump has already guaranteed himself at least £200,000 by reaching the semi-finals, and an additional £100,000 bonus for having amassed 100 century breaks over the season, with nine of those crafted at Sheffield alone—an extraordinary achievement by any standard.
Williams, who turned 50 earlier this year, has not been shy about expressing his own respect for the Englishman. “All he’s missing on his CV probably is another World Championship and if he gets another one of them, he has to be one of the greatest of all time,” Williams noted. At the same time, he joked, “Oh yeah, not this year!” alluding to his determination to put a stop to Trump’s relentless march. Of Trump’s bonus for a century of centuries, Williams remarked, “There’s no other player who had a sniff of winning that bonus £100,000. Only him because he’s relentless.”
As the snooker world looks forward to their semi-final meeting, the mutual respect between Trump and Williams provides an uplifting backdrop to the fierce competition. This match is not just a contest of skill, but a testament to the enduring spirit, sportsmanship, and shared experience that define the upper echelons of world snooker.
For both men, another chapter awaits at the Crucible; one will move forward with the chance to cement their status among the sport’s immortals, while the other’s journey, rich in drama and achievement, will command continued respect, whatever the outcome.