Mark Williams is a three-time world snooker champion and one of the greatest natural potters the game has ever produced.
Mark Williams – Career Snapshot
| Date of birth: | 21 March 1975 |
| From: | Wales |
| Turned professional: | 1992 |
| Highest world ranking: | No. 1 |
| Ranking titles: | 27 |
| World Championship titles: | 3 |
| Triple Crown titles: | 7 |
| Masters appearances: | 28 |
| Maximum 147 breaks: | 3 |
Mark Williams’s Snooker Career
Mark Williams turned professional in 1992 at the same time as Ronnie O’Sullivan and John Higgins, but it took the Welshman longer than his famous contemporaries to establish himself among the elite. Williams didn’t win his first ranking title until he triumphed on home soil at the 1996 Welsh Open, while his Crucible debut followed a year later. Once he finally did reach the summit, however, he became a dominant force.
His consistency around the turn of the century saw him claim two world titles, hold the world number one ranking, and put together a remarkable run of 48 consecutive events in which he always won at least his opening match. The pinnacle came during the 2002/03 season, when the Welsh Potting Machine completed a famous Triple Crown clean sweep. By winning the LG Cup at the start of the following campaign, Williams briefly held all four of the BBC’s major titles at the same time.
In the years that followed, his career included plenty of ups and downs, including a spell where he slid as low as 47 on the provisional world rankings. Yet a surprise resurgence arrived in 2017/18, when victories at the Six Red World Championship, the Northern Ireland Open, and the German Masters reignited his belief.
That revival culminated in a memorable run to the 2018 World Championship title, beating Higgins 18-16 in a classic final to secure his third Crucible crown. Still a threat deep into his late forties, Williams added the Tour Championship and Champion of Champions trophies in 2024, before becoming the oldest-ever winner of a ranking event with his Xi’an Grand Prix success in 2025 at the age of 50.
Mark Williams’s Ranking Titles
Mark Williams has won a total of 27 ranking titles during his professional career.
| Year | Tournament |
|---|---|
| 1996 | Welsh Open |
| 1996 | Grand Prix |
| 1997 | British Open |
| 1998 | Irish Open |
| 1999 | Welsh Open |
| 1999 | Thailand Masters |
| 1999 | UK Championship |
| 2000 | Thailand Masters |
| 2000 | World Snooker Championship |
| 2000 | Grand Prix |
| 2002 | China Open |
| 2002 | Thailand Masters |
| 2002 | UK Championship |
| 2003 | World Snooker Championship |
| 2003 | LG Cup |
| 2006 | China Open |
| 2010 | China Open |
| 2011 | German Masters |
| 2017 | Northern Ireland Open |
| 2018 | German Masters |
| 2018 | World Snooker Championship |
| 2018 | World Open |
| 2021 | WST Pro Series |
| 2021 | British Open |
| 2023 | British Open |
| 2024 | Tour Championship |
| 2025 | Xi’an Grand Prix |
Other Major Titles and Notable Wins
- The Masters (1998, 2003)
- Champion of Champions (2024)
- Six Red World Championship (2017)
- Pot Black (2006)
- Nations Cup (1999)
- Minor ranking events (2010 PTC 1, 2013 Rotterdam Open)
Mark Williams and the Triple Crown
Mark Williams has won seven Triple Crown titles, including three World Championship victories.
- World Championship: 3 titles (2000, 2003, 2018)
- UK Championship: 2 titles (1999, 2002)
- Masters: 2 titles (1998, 2003)
SHQ Star Rating: ★★★★★★★
SnookerHQ uses a seven-point star scale based on the scoring values of snooker balls, with a black (7) representing the highest career classification. Ratings are assigned using career achievements, longevity, and historical impact.
Mark Williams: ★★★★★★★
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Featured photo credit: WST