Williams responds to ‘grief’ from Walker during Crucible walk-ons
Video credit: TNT Sports
Williams – one of snooker’s great jokers – was the subject of a playful intro speech from Walker before his World Championship first-round match against Antoni Kowalski. Walker, who has become a staple feature as MC at the Crucible, made reference to Williams not having needed to attend a barbershop “in decades”, as well as the Welshman’s well-publicised vision issues – with footage on TNT Sports showing the 51-year-old sporting a grin – as the monologue was read out.
Speaking ahead of his second-round clash against Barry Hawkins, Williams urged Walker to be even more scathing in his next attempt.
“I don’t mind, honestly he can say anything he wants to me, water off a duck’s back,” Williams told TNT Sports. “He says to me, ‘I’m not upsetting you am I?’ I said Rob, ‘the more grief you can give me the better, just crack on’.
“He can’t say anything to upset me. If you can say anything and upset me you’ve done well, because Walker has been trying for 40 years and he hasn’t been able to do it. I don’t take anything too seriously, say what you want. I love it.”
MC Rob Walker speaking before Mark Williams’ match against Antoni Kowalski”Twenty-nine years ago on this very day, it was his turn, to be the fresh-faced 22-year-old debutant, with boyish good looks, a full head of hair, and perfect vision! How little has changed in the intervening years. He hasn’t been to a barber in decades, but lest we forget, he remains one of our all-time greats. Finalist at 49, three times a champion de monde, it wouldn’t be a Worlds without Willo. Here he comes, the irrepressible, irreplaceable, Mark J Williams!”
Speaking in the TNT Sports studio after his first-round win, Williams said he was still “holding off” surgery to improve his vision, saying his eyesight is worse than it was last year.
But his form has not suffered as a result. He made it all the way to last year’s final in Sheffield, where he went down to defeat against Zhao Xintong.
Williams laughs off amusing intro ahead of Kowalski clash
Video credit: TNT Sports
Williams became snooker’s oldest-ever ranking event winner, when he beat Shaun Murphy to lift the Xi’an Grand Prix title in October. It was his 27th ranking event success, helping him retain his lofty ranking at No. 6 in the world.
And there could yet be more silverware in Williams’ illustrious career, as he told TNT Sports he has no plans to retire anytime soon.
‘You have a go!’ – Crucible erupts into laughter as Williams offers out cue for tricky shot
Video credit: TNT Sports
Referencing his ‘Class of 92’ colleagues Ronnie O’Sullivan and John Higgins, Williams said: “I just did an interview with Steve Davis, and he asked me ‘which of you is going to give up first?’.
“I said ‘it’s not me!’. I have already made up my mind, when I drop off the tour, I will keep playing in the amateurs, and travel around with my boy [13-year-old son Joel] if he’s still playing.
”So I’m out of the equation. It’s who’s going to crack out of those two, because I’m staying, even if I drop off the tour. I’ll be on the amateur circuit, trying to get back on.
”I am going to see where I am at 55, in the top 16 or wherever, and just keep on trucking.”
You can watch every day of the 2026 World Snooker Championship live on TNT Sports. It is available both live and on-demand on HBO Max.
