At 25, Williams is young by industry standards. Does this mean that the younger generation of cue-masters will overtake and leave today's veterans behind. This may not happen. Many of our more renowned professionals feel that there may be lots of talent in the young, but there is the worry of burn-out.
Regardless, readers ought to know more about this young, talented master. Mark Williams was born on March 21, 1975. It seems, his full Taurian nature comes through in his masterful game.
Mark Williams was an amateur boxer at first. It seemed like he had a promising career ahead of him. However, he switched to the professional snooker circuit in 1992 at the tender age of 17.
In 1993, Mark Williams made his first appearance in a world championship tournament. However, he was beaten 5-2 in the qualifying round by David Wilson.
Four years later in 1997, he made his first appearance at the Crucible Theatre. He was trounced by the then indomitable Stephen Hendry 13-8 in the second round. revenge was sweet when a year later in 1998, Mark Williams defeated Stephen Hendry 10-9 on the final black to win the prestigious Benson and Hedges Masters. That same year however, he lost to Ken Doherty in the semi-finals of the world championships.
Again in 1999, Mark Williams lost the world championship in the finals to Stephen Hendry 18 frames to 11. However, he redeemed his skyrocketing career rankings by winning the UK Championships, defeating Mathew Stevens in the finals. This very same adversary was to face him a year later in the crucial final stages of a match that would catapult Mark Williams to the world number one position.
In early 2000, Mark Williams was already assured the world number one spot for the whole of the next season, the first Welsh player to do so since Ray Reardon in 1982-83. He then went on to defeat Matthew Stevens in the finals of the Embassy World Championship 18-16 and strengthen his pole position.
Go To Page: 1
