**Mark Williams’ Emotional World Snooker Final Journey Moves BBC Reporter to Tears Despite Zhao’s Triumph**
In a night filled with emotion at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre, Welsh snooker stalwart Mark Williams captured the hearts of fans and journalists alike as he embarked on his fifth World Snooker Championship final. Despite ultimately falling to China’s Zhao Xintong, Williams’ remarkable journey and achievements drew widespread admiration — even moving BBC and Sky Sports reporter Abigail Davis to tears.
Williams, aged 50, not only defied his own expectations but also made sporting history, becoming the oldest ever player to contest the final at the world’s most prestigious snooker tournament. In doing so, he surpassed the record of his compatriot Ray Reardon, who last competed for the title at 49 in 1982. Williams’ continued prowess at the table, even whilst managing an ongoing eye condition, impressed both fans and sporting commentators around the world.
Abigail Davis, known for her detailed coverage across both Sky Sports and the BBC, documented her own emotional response on social media. “Actually had tears in my eyes watching Mark Williams soak up the atmosphere and adoration as he entered the arena,” she wrote, highlighting the profound effect the moment had on many present. Davis further expressed her pride as a fellow Welsh person, stating, “The level of pride us Welshies feel for our own! What a tremendous effort from Mark J Williams this evening. You’ll have to scrape him off that table, mun. YMA O HYD.”
Such sentiment captured the wider mood surrounding Williams’ campaign. Against all odds, his route to the final was anything but straightforward. He edged out John Higgins in a memorable quarter-final and executed a stirring comeback from 5–1 down to defeat world number one Judd Trump in the semi-final. All this, while contending with a well-documented eye issue for which he has scheduled surgery in the coming months.
Reflecting on his journey after the final, Williams was candid about the significance of the occasion. “The reception I’ve had all week… but tonight was something special,” he admitted. “When I was stood on the steps and they were all on their feet — it brought a tear to the eye.” He graciously acknowledged his opponent’s achievement, adding, “But the night belongs to Zhao and congratulations. I’ve got nothing but admiration for what he’s done, coming through the qualifiers. There’s a new superstar of the game.”
Zhao Xintong’s title-winning performance was itself the stuff of fairy tales. Having returned to the sport following a 20-month suspension as a result of a match-fixing investigation, Zhao not only fought through gruelling qualifiers but also set a new landmark as the first Chinese player to claim the world title. Visibly overcome in victory, he credited Williams as one of the sport’s enduring greats. “It’s very good for Chinese snooker. I’m very happy I’ve done this for them,” Zhao told BBC Sport. “When I shook hands with Mark [Williams] I nearly cried. Mark is still a top player and put me under so much pressure. He’s the best.”
Zhao’s win is already reverberating across the snooker landscape. His journey, starting from the qualifiers and culminating in an historic final, serves as a powerful testament to persistence and resilience within the sport. He expressed hope for the future of Chinese snooker, confident that his victory would inspire many more players from his country to follow.
For Williams, the occasion marks another chapter in a storied career that has inspired a generation of snooker fans, particularly in Wales. Even as he prepares for surgery and the next steps of his career, the legacy of his determination and talent is firmly assured.
The 2025 World Snooker Championship thus closed not only with new records and historic milestones but also with a heartfelt reminder of the power of sport to move and unite people across backgrounds. Whether in the winning or the striving, the human stories behind the spectacle continue to resonate long after the final frame.
In the aftermath, social media was awash with tributes to both players. Fans and experts alike pointed to the emotional depth and exceptional sporting drama on display — a fitting celebration of what many consider to be one of snooker’s finest finals in recent years.