Mark Williams’ Health Concerns Prompt Major Alterations to Snooker Tournament: “The Only Way is Up”
MARK WILLIAMS is set to try contact lenses during a tournament for the first time, admitting that he struggles to play snooker because he is “HALF BLIND.”
After his defeat at this month’s Players Championship, the 50-year-old Welshman revealed that “every single shot looks blurry” due to the deterioration of his eyesight.
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As he prepares to defend his title at the Tour Championship in Manchester next Monday evening, he will implement this new strategy.
Williams, who is set to go up against Ding Junhui in the first round of this season’s penultimate competition, stated: “I’m taking it one step at a time.”
“I’m committed to using these contact lenses for the Tour Championship.”
“I’m not certain how they will perform under the lights, but I hope they won’t cause any major problems.”
“If I do well with them, I’ll keep wearing them for the World Championship and see how it goes afterward.”
“The contacts are currently working for me; they might be a little uncomfortable, but I may just need to adjust to them.”
“Things can’t get any worse than the Players because my vision was quite limited.”
Last month, Willo shared with SunSport how grateful he was that he didn’t lose sight in one eye after an unexpected incident involving a golf ball struck by his son.
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If Williams successfully defends the £150,000 Tour Championship, which includes 12 players, he would become the oldest ranking event champion in the history of the sport.
This accomplishment would eclipse the record set by Ray Reardon, who was 50 years and 14 days old when he won the 1982 Professional Players Championship.
Stephen Hendry believes Ronnie O’Sullivan could ‘turn up and win’ World Snooker Championship
The World No. 5 secured the Champion of Champions title in Bolton last November, and his other final appearance was a narrow loss to Judd Trump in a dramatic 10-9 battle at the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters in September.
The three-time world champion commented: “When I find my rhythm, I’m a danger.”
“Even in my final against Judd Trump in Saudi, it was an intense match, and I was just one red away from victory.”
“I certainly have it in me, but unfortunately, it doesn’t surface as often as it used to.”
List of all-time Snooker World Champions
BELOW is a comprehensive list of snooker World Champions by year.
The record pertains to the modern era, generally regarded as beginning with the 1968-69 season, when the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) took control of the sport.
The inaugural World Championships occurred in 1927, with interruptions from 1941-45 due to World War II and from 1958-63 due to disputes in the sport.
Joe Davis (15), Fred Davis, and John Pulman (both 8) were the most successful players during that early period.
Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O’Sullivan hold the record for the most titles in the modern era, each with seven championships.
- 1969 – John Spencer
- 1970 – Ray Reardon
- 1971 – John Spencer
- 1972 – Alex Higgins
- 1973 – Ray Reardon (2)
- 1974 – Ray Reardon (3)
- 1975 – Ray Reardon (4)
- 1976 – Ray Reardon (5)
- 1977 – John Spencer (2)
- 1978 – Ray Reardon (6)
- 1979 – Terry Griffiths
- 1980 – Cliff Thorburn
- 1981 – Steve Davis
- 1982 – Alex Higgins (2)
- 1983 – Steve Davis (2)
- 1984 – Steve Davis (3)
- 1985 – Dennis Taylor
- 1986 – Joe Johnson
- 1987 – Steve Davis (4)
- 1988 – Steve Davis (5)
- 1989 – Steve Davis (6)
- 1990 – Stephen Hendry
- 1991 – John Parrott
- 1992 – Stephen Hendry (2)
- 1993 – Stephen Hendry (3)
- 1994 – Stephen Hendry (4)
- 1995 – Stephen Hendry (5)
- 1996 – Stephen Hendry (6)
- 1997 – Ken Doherty
- 1998 – John Higgins
- 1999 – Stephen Hendry (7)
- 2000 – Mark Williams
- 2001 – Ronnie O’Sullivan
- 2002 – Peter Ebdon
- 2003 – Mark Williams (2)
- 2004 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (2)
- 2005 – Shaun Murphy
- 2006 – Graeme Dott
- 2007 – John Higgins (2)
- 2008 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (3)
- 2009 – John Higgins (3)
- 2010 – Neil Robertson
- 2011 – John Higgins (4)
- 2012 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (4)
- 2013 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (5)
- 2014 – Mark Selby
- 2015 – Stuart Bingham
- 2016 – Mark Selby (2)
- 2017 – Mark Selby (3)
- 2018 – Mark Williams (3)
- 2019 – Judd Trump
- 2020 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (6)
- 2021 – Mark Selby (4)
- 2022 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (7)
- 2023 – Luca Brecel
- 2024 – Kyren Wilson
Most World Titles (modern era)
- 7 – Stephen Hendry, Ronnie O’Sullivan
- 6 – Ray Reardon, Steve Davis
- 4 – John Higgins, Mark Selby
- 3 – John Spencer, Mark Williams
- 2 – Alex Higgins