Mark Williams has raised eyebrows by teasing plans to compete in a rival competition to the World Championship next year. The Welshman upset the odds to reach the Crucible final, where he was beaten convincingly by the impressive Zhao Xintong, but can reflect on a brilliant campaign having defeated Judd Trump, John Higgins, Hossein Vafaei and Wu Yize in the span of two weeks.
However, Williams has now set his sights elsewhere. He plans on competing in the World Seniors Championship, a tournament he won in 2015. The tournament is currently taking place at the Crucible and follows the World Championship.
In 2017 and 2018, the event was closed to players who still had a professional tour card and were inside the top 64. But the tournament was opened back up in 2019 to players on the main tour who were over 40, though they had to be ranked outside the top 64, ruling Williams ineligible due to his new ranking of world No. 3.
But this season, the minimum age for players on the main tour but outside the top 64 was reverted to 45.
A major boost to the senior competition came in March, when an agreement was signed stating that any professional over the age of 45 can accept an invitation to or enter a qualifier for a televised senior event, provided it is not staged on the day of a World Snooker tournament.
Williams, 50, can compete but many top-level stars opt to rest after the World Championship, the traditional end to the season, before starting up again in Xi’An in August.
However, Williams shared a picture of himself watching the senior tournament from his home on social media and wrote: “I should be there, next year.”
That ruling ensures that Williams, alongside the likes of Ronnie O’Sullivan and Higgins, are allowed to compete should they wish to do so.
Next year’s competition could be a star-studded affair, with one fan in the comments of Williams’ post asking him to persuade seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry to feature alongside him.
However, Williams took a playful jab at his old foe by replying: “He wouldn’t get past the first round.”
The Welsh Potting Machine bagged £18,000 for winning the senior competition in 2015 and played in it the following year, though was defeated in the last 16. The prize fund has since been increased a decade later, with the victor taking home £20,000 and the runner-up £10,000. Brazilian icon Igor Figueiredo is the reigning champion.
Few professional players do take up the option of competing in the senior event. But Williams, despite his return to top form, is planning on taking part next year.
