Mark Williams is celebrating his remarkable resilience in professional snooker, highlighting that he, Ronnie O’Sullivan, and John Higgins are all still competing at a high level within the sport. Reaching the second round of the UK Championship, the 50-year-old Welshman overcame David Gilbert in a challenging first-round match, securing a 6-4 victory amidst some difficulties.
During the match, Williams found himself trailing 2-1, with Gilbert appearing to have the upper hand. A moment of frustration led Williams to jokingly suggest throwing his cue into the crowd. However, he pulled together, winning four consecutive frames before Gilbert mounted a mini-revival. Despite the pressure, Williams managed to secure the decisive frame, advancing further into the tournament.
Reflecting on the “Class of 92″—a label shared with O’Sullivan and Higgins—Williams expressed pride in their ongoing careers. He remarked to TNT Sports, “It’s amazing how the three of us are still going. I’ve always been chasing their tails for 30, 40 years. But I think in the past five, six years, I’ve been a little bit better than the other two at the minute.” This marks a notable shift in Williams’ sentiment towards comparisons with his peers, as he previously expressed frustration with the distinctions made between them.
Earlier this year, Williams stated that he found the comparisons tiresome, considering O’Sullivan as the best and Higgins as the second-best players in snooker history. Yet, his recent comments indicate a newfound appreciation for the mutual journey in their careers as he continues to compete actively in prestigious tournaments like the UK Championship.
Williams described his performance against Gilbert as “much better after the interval,” contrasting it with the initial struggle at the beginning of the match. Looking ahead, he is set to face Pang Junxu in the second round, where he remains optimistic about achieving further success in the competition.
As he approaches his 51st birthday, Williams reflected on his tenure in snooker, asserting that his achievements early in the season have been remarkably fulfilling. “All I wanted to do at the start of the season, if I could nick a tournament, I’d be over the moon, but I’ve done it pretty early on,” he noted, conveying a positive outlook regardless of what lies ahead in his athletic career.