Tour Championship 2025: How Mark Williams and Ding Junhui created a unique snooker world record – 'Unbelievable frame'

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Mark Williams and Ding Junhui are likely to share a unique piece of snooker history long after they end their golden professional careers. Williams begins his title defence at the Tour Championship against Ding on Monday night in Manchester, but their best-of-19 frame meeting is unlikely to produce a moment to rival the record points total they totted up at the 2023 UK Championship in York.

Williams pots black one-handed to complete magnificent 136 and draw level with Ding

Video credit: TNT Sports

Mark Williams and Ding Junhui will do battle in the first round of the Tour Championship on Monday evening in Manchester in the latest instalment of a 22-year professional rivalry.

But it is unlikely the celebrated duo will recreate the moment they shared a unique piece of history during the quarter-finals of the 2023 UK Championship in York.

Ding edged Williams 6-5 on his way to reaching the final at the Barbican, where he lost 10-7 to Ronnie O'Sullivan, but the contest is probably best recalled for a remarkable eighth frame that was edged by the Welshman in levelling at 4-4.

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Williams remarkably won the frame 101-94 with 195 points, setting a new points world record for a single frame at the elite level.

Three-time world champion Williams shipped 53 points in 12 fouls with Chinese icon Ding, a three-time UK Champion, contributing three fouls for 12 to give the final scoreline an astonishing look.

"Unbelievable frame! Look at the score!" said David Hendon with an air of disbelief on commentary. "94 each. The black for Williams to take it, and set a new record..." before Williams slotted the winning final black.

"The most points ever scored in a frame of snooker in the history of the game!

"195 points, incredible! They had such a battle on the green. The frame has been won by Williams, 101 points to 94. Quite extraordinary."

Ding leads 11-6 on the career head-to-head, with Williams defeating Ding 6-2 in the first round of the Players Championship last week after Ding edged the Welshman 6-5 in the Masters last 16 in January.

Their best-of-19 frame encounter gets underway on Monday night with Williams beginning his title defence at the Tour Championship, the penultimate event before the World Championship.

They play to a finish on Tuesday evening with the winner facing world champion Kyren Wilson in the last eight on Thursday.

2025 Tour Championship

First round (best of 19 frames), all times UK

Monday, March 31
1pm
Shaun Murphy v Barry Hawkins
Xiao Guodong v Wu Yize

7pm
Shaun Murphy v Barry Hawkins to a finish
Mark Williams v Ding Junhui

Tuesday, April 1
1pm
Mark Selby v Si Jiahui
Xiao Guodong v Wu Yize to a finish

7pm
Mark Selby v Si Jiahui to a finish
Mark Williams v Ding Junhui to a finish

- - -

Watch and stream top snooker action, including the World Championship, live and on demand on TNT Sports and discovery+

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