Welsh snooker veteran Mark Williams has dropped hints about a surprising new direction for his career after his recent defeat at the hands of Zhao Xintong in the World Snooker Championship final. Williams, who was vying for his fourth world crown at Sheffield’s iconic Crucible Theatre, saw his hopes dashed as Zhao, reinstated after a lengthy suspension, clinched the title with a commanding 18-12 result.
Now 50 years of age, Williams was candid in the aftermath of the match, praising the ascending Chinese talent as a “new superstar of the game.” Zhao, a former world number six who had returned to amateur status following a 20-month ban, became world champion for the first time. Williams, no stranger to the pressures of top-flight snooker, had navigated a challenging route to the final, overcoming the likes of Judd Trump and John Higgins along the way, only to find Zhao in irresistible form.
Despite the sting of defeat, Williams appears to be channeling his focus into fresh opportunities, notably teasing an unexpected return to the World Seniors Championship. Traditionally, this tournament follows hot on the heels of the main World Championship, with snooker luminaries such as Jimmy White and Ken Doherty often gracing the tables. Williams previously claimed the seniors’ title in 2015 and re-entered the competition in 2016, but his eligibility had been curtailed due to ongoing professional commitments and his top 64 world ranking.
Major changes are afoot for the seniors’ tour, however. This year’s World Seniors Championship marks the end of a long-standing relationship between World Seniors Snooker (WSS) and the World Snooker Tour (WST). As the partnership dissolves, tournament organisers are set to relax entry restrictions, paving the way for professionals over 40 — regardless of their current rankings — to participate in future seniors’ events.
This development could throw open the doors to elite players like Williams, now ranked third in the world, as well as other greats such as Ronnie O’Sullivan and John Higgins. Williams himself has dropped strong hints about taking part. On social media, he recently posted a photo of himself watching the seniors’ matches at the Crucible, wryly commenting, “I should be there, next year.”
Always game for a laugh, Williams also joked with fans online about the potential for other celebrated contemporaries to join him. When one supporter raised the prospect of Stephen Hendry sharing the seniors’ stage, Williams quipped, “He wouldn’t get past the first round.”
While few current professionals tend to enter the seniors’ competitions, the evolving rules could see this change — and Williams, if he does put his hat in the ring, could be in with the chance of securing both the main and seniors’ world titles within a matter of weeks. He took home £18,000 for his victory in 2015, a lucrative incentive that may well appeal in the twilight of his career.
The WSS provided clarification on their altered relationship with the WST, announcing, “Following a request from World Seniors Snooker to include players currently inside the top 64 on the World Rankings, and attempts to negotiate these changes, a compromise was unable to be met.” The joint statement continued, “Both parties have mutually agreed to an early termination of the Sanctioning Agreement, which will take effect on 12 May, following the conclusion of the 2025 World Seniors Snooker Championship.”
Despite the shift, both organisations were keen to emphasise their continued dedication to the sport and to the players who have shaped snooker’s storied history. “WST and WSS remain committed to the sport of snooker and recognise the contributions of players at all levels,” their statement concluded, underlining the mutual respect and ambition which persists throughout the game.
For Mark Williams, this turning point could mark the beginning of an intriguing new chapter, either as a competitors’ champion among his peers or as an ambassador for a sport in transformation. Fans and pundits alike will be watching keenly to see what his next move will be.