World Championship 2025: Mark Williams hopeful eye surgery can prolong career - 'It could give me another five years'
Updated 20/04/2025 at 19:41 GMT+1
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Mark Williams battled his way to victory in the first round of the World Championship with a 10-8 victory over Wu Yize, and after his Crucible challenge is over the Welshman will head for eye surgery as contact lenses are not doing what he hoped. Watch and stream top snooker action, including the World Championship, live and on demand on TNT Sports and discovery+
'Could have done himself a mischief' - Williams pots red with spider from awkward position
Video credit: TNT Sports
Mark Williams has booked himself in for an eye operation after the World Championship as contact lenses have not solved issues with his vision.
The three-time world champion revealed earlier in the year that he was struggling with his sight at the table.
After showing some poor form in the second half of the season, Williams visited an optician and took the decision to book himself in for eye surgery.
That operation will not take place until June, and in the lead up to the World Championship, Williams had been testing contact lenses.
He said they had not aided his vision at the table, although he admitted everything was clear away from the baize, and after a conversation with his coach Lee Walker, Williams took the decision to play without them at The Crucible.
"I am still struggling," Williams said in the TNT Sports studio following his win over Wu Yize in the opening round. "All week, six hours a day in practice, one day I have been playing with contacts in, the next day I have not got them in, then the next day I’ve got them in.
"I just said ’look, you are apparently the self-proclaimed best coach in the world’ - that’s what he keeps telling me - ‘I’ll leave it to you to tell me if I am hitting the ball better without them.' He said ‘I think you should play with them out.’"
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'I am still struggling' - Williams booked in for eye surgery after World Championship
Video credit: TNT Sports
Asked about how his struggles with his sight had impacted him, Williams said: "It is not going to get any better, it’s going to get worse, so I am booked in on June 12 to have lens replacement which does your distance, your middle and your near.
"If it goes well and it helps me out, it could give me another five years. But I know if I don’t get it done, I know I do not have four or five years left, as I am seeing two or three balls now."
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Williams overcame his issues to claim a battling win over Wu, and showed tremendous resolve to win the final three frames.
Wu pushed Williams hard, and the latter predicted big things for his beaten opponent.
"He is a brilliant potter," Williams said. "I don’t like saying it because I’ve just beaten him, but he has the potential to win this tournament.
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Mark Williams on day two of the Halo World Snooker Championship 2025 at Crucible Theatre on April 20, 2025 in Sheffield, England
Image credit: Getty Images
"Some of the long pots he was potting, I could not keep him safe. That is why I reverted back to my old sneaky break to stop him potting. I think he missed two or three long balls in 18 frames, which is incredible."
Looking back on how he secured the win, which was live on TNT Sports and discovery+, Williams said: "I am not going to out-pot him, not really going to outscore him, but I can outmanoeuvre him and out-safety him.
"Maybe if I was 21 again I could keep him with him. What a phenomenal potter."
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Watch the 2025 World Championship live on TNT Sports and discovery+
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