**Mark Williams: Net Worth, Health Fears and Family Support Amid World Championship Glory**
Veteran snooker star Mark Williams has found himself in the spotlight once again, both for his masterful play at the World Snooker Championship and the obstacles he faces away from the table. As the 50-year-old Welshman continues his campaign at Sheffield’s famous Crucible Theatre, attention has turned not only to his on-table feats, but also to his significant career earnings, ongoing health struggles and the public defence mounted by his wife over perceived slights within the sport.
Williams heads into his latest semi-final appearance at the Crucible, boasting a narrow lead against world number one Judd Trump. If successful, this will edge him closer to reclaiming the World Championship title he last won in 2018. The ongoing tournament has already seen Williams become the oldest player to reach this stage since 1985, underlining his enduring class within the sport.
However, Williams’ progress is remarkable not simply for his age, but also his resilience in response to health worries. Over recent months, the three-time world champion has revealed that he is struggling with a serious eye condition, which has markedly affected his vision. In interviews, Williams admitted his eyesight had degenerated so much that he sometimes saw “three or four balls at a time” during matches—a troubling affliction for any professional snooker player.
Contemplating a possible operation, Williams has publicly shared his hesitance over going under the knife. After consulting fellow professionals, such as Anthony Hamilton, Williams confessed his worries that surgery could impair his ability under the tournament’s intense lighting, potentially jeopardising his future career. Admitting to the tough decision ahead, Williams remarked, “It has sort of put me under pressure. After this is finished, it is something I am going to have to look more into.”
Financially, Williams’ perseverance has paid off handsomely. According to industry sources, his net worth stands at an estimated £7.1 million, bolstered by regular prize winnings. The previous season alone reportedly earned him £438,500, and another world title could add a further £500,000 to his already impressive fortune—illustrating the lucrative rewards that come with reaching snooker’s elite echelons.
Yet, despite his status as one of Wales’ most recognisable sportsmen, Williams’ journey has not been without controversy—particularly from the wider world of snooker promotion. His wife, Joanne, has been a vocal advocate for her husband, especially after Williams was notably left off the cover of the sport’s official video game following his 2018 world title victory. Joanne, who has been married to Mark for 14 years and together with him for 25, did not hide her outrage, suggesting the snub was “massively prejudice” and questioning why the sport’s governing bodies did not better celebrate Williams as world champion.
Expressing her frustration on social media, Joanne wrote: “Snooker in general doesn’t get the praise deserved and is constantly overlooked at the SPOTY awards. How do they expect others to respect the game when they don’t even support their own World Champion #baffled.” The company behind the video game responded, explaining logistical restrictions in cover choices and the difficulty of pleasing a field comprising 128 professional players.
Behind Williams stands his close-knit family. Joanne, originally from Hartlepool, and their three sons—Conor, Kian, and Joel—have been a constant source of support through career highs and lows. Reflecting on their enduring relationship, Joanne once wrote, “An English girl, a Welsh boy working on different sides of the world, it shouldn’t have worked but we proved them wrong.”
As the world’s snooker eyes turn to the Crucible’s closing stages, Mark Williams continues to inspire—demonstrating extraordinary resilience, both in play and in facing personal challenges. Should he succeed in the tournament, Williams will strengthen his claim as one of snooker’s true greats, both for his achievements and his ability to rise above adversity.
His story remains a testament to the dedication required to reach – and remain – at the peak of professional sport, shining a light as much on the personal as the public battles faced by top athletes.