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'Amazing' - Mark Williams celebrates UK Championship first-round win over David Gilbert and claims he is 'better' than Ronnie O'Sullivan
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Published 01/12/2025 at 00:01 GMT
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Mark Williams is through to the second round of the UK Championship at the Barbican Centre in York after defeating David Gilbert 6-4 on Sunday evening. At 50, Williams is part of the Class of '92, alongside Ronnie O'Sullivan and John Higgins, who continue to produce some of the sport's best performances. Williams was pleased to still be playing at such a high level.
Watch as Williams clinches victory over Gilbert at UK Championship
Video credit: TNT Sports
Mark Williams celebrated the "amazing" achievement of still playing professional snooker at 50, after he beat David Gilbert 6-4 in the UK Championship first round.
Gilbert was 2-1 up and scored the only centuries of the match, but Williams won four consecutive frames to put himself a frame from victory.
Gilbert scored his second century to reduce the deficit, and went just one frame behind with another half-century.
However, former world No. 1 Williams was able to hold his nerve, going on to win a decisive 10th frame.
Speaking to TNT Sports after his win, Williams said that he and Gilbert both improved after the interval.
He said: "Much better after the interval. Before the interval, it was like watching [Stephen] Hendry play [Steve] Davis. After the interval, it was quite good stuff from both of us."
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Watch: 'Very angry' Williams SLAMS cue into floor and threatens to throw it into crowd
Video credit: TNT Sports
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After a poor shot at 2-1, Williams was asked when he feinted to throw his cue into the crowd, whether that had relaxed him after he had hit the ground with his cue just moments before. The Welshman explained he was frustrated for a long period after that.
He said: "I was still swearing to myself 10 minutes after that."
Williams continued: "After the interval, we both played quite well. It could have been five-five. I’m happy to have got that last frame."
Williams already has the Xi’an Grand Prix to his name, and has been in the latter stages of the Wuhan Open, the Saudi Arabia Masters, the Champion of Champions and the Riyadh Season Championship this season.
He admitted his surprise at how well his season had gone ahead of the UK Championship, especially given he remains one of the game’s top talents at 50.
He reflected: "[I’m] 51 soon. It's unbelievable. All I wanted to do at the start of the season, if I could nick a tournament, I'd be over the moon, but I've done it pretty early on, and we're still going on. Whatever happens from here, I can't grumble."
Watch: 'Very angry' Williams SLAMS cue into floor and threatens to throw it into crowd
Video credit: TNT Sports
Williams on what separates him from O'Sullivan
Discussing the Class of ‘92 - Ronnie O’Sullivan, John Higgins and himself - he said: "It's amazing how the three of us are still going.
"I've always been chasing their tails for 30, 40 years. But I think in the past five, six years, I've been a little bit better than the other two at the minute.
"All my results are showing it, so that's an achievement in itself."
Williams believed that his ability to deal with setbacks on the table might give him an advantage over his two peers, saying: "I can take playing badly and missing a ball better than the other two.
"If I miss a sitter, I don’t really care. Especially Ronnie, who is used to making frame-winning breaks."
Williams will play Pang Junxu in round two at the Barbican Centre in York.
Watch and stream the 2025/26 snooker season, including the UK Championship, live on TNT Sports and discovery+
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