Latest news with #WelshPottingMachine
The Irish Sun
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Mark Williams shows off BEASTLY vehicle after landing £200k windfall in World Snooker Championship final
MARK WILLIAMS revealed his new beastly vehicle after the World Snooker Championship. Williams, 50, made it to the final at the Crucible where he lost to 3 Mark Williams revealed his new beastly vehicle after the World Snooker Championship 3 Williams' new car is near completion 3 Williams lost the World Snooker Championship to Zhao Xintong Despite his loss, the Welsh Potting Machine left Sheffield with a staggering £200,000 in prize money. And after that massive windfall the snooker star took to social media to unveil his new car that is near completion. The World No3 took to social media and showed some pics of his new ride, which he stated was bought before the tournament. Read More on Snooker Snooker fans were left in awe with his new ride as they stormed the comments' section. One fan tweeted: "That is a beast!" Another commented: "That's a quality motor that!!" A third wrote: "You could fit a snooker table in that, it's that big." Most read in Snooker CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS This fan said: "Banger Mark." That one gushed: "That's f****** lovely Mark." Mark Williams apologises for swearing in live TV interview on the BBC after reaching World Snooker Championship final And finally this snooker fan posted: "Dawg damn , that's some zombie apocalypse s*** right there."
Wales Online
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
Mark Williams receives salute from Mark Selby for what he did during snooker match
Mark Williams receives salute from Mark Selby for what he did during snooker match Mark Selby and Mark Williams went head-to-head in an exhibition match at the Guangzhou Billiards Exhibition in China, with the latter wowing fans and even his opponent Mark Selby salutes Mark Williams after losing a frame to the Welsh Potting Machine (Image: X/Guangzhou Billiards Exhibition ) Mark Williams left old snooker rival Mark Selby saluting him after pulling off an audacious pot to win a frame. The two faced off at the Guangzhou Billiards Exhibition in China, providing fans with a thrilling contest between two multiple world champions. Selby had already secured one frame when he and Williams found themselves locked at 60-60 in the second, leading to a decisive re-spotted black. Faced with a challenging long-distance cut, the Welsh Potting Machine took on the shot and left spectators in awe as the ball rolled into the right-corner pocket. Given the friendly nature of the match, Selby thoroughly enjoyed the moment. Williams returned to his seat sporting a smirk, accompanied by a roar from the crowd at the China Import and Export Fair Complex. When the camera focused on Selby, he was seen grinning broadly and applauding by slapping his knee. He even caught Williams' attention and saluted him, leading to shared laughter between the pair, reports the Express. At the age of 50, Williams is playing some of the finest snooker of his career. Earlier this month, he became the oldest player in the modern era to reach the final of the World Championship. Despite losing to Zhao Xintong, Williams walked away from the Crucible with a prize money of £200,000 and a renewed conviction that he can still compete for the biggest prizes in the sport. Article continues below Mark Williams after his audacious pot against Mark Selby (Image: X/Guangzhou Billiards Exhibition ) Williams' future could hinge on the upcoming weeks, as the three-time world champion faces challenges with his vision and a looming surgical procedure. Williams, whose sight has been failing him, is scheduled for an eye operation soon. "I've tried playing with contacts but it's very difficult and really uncomfortable in my eyes," he admitted prior to the World Championship. "I'm booked in on 12 June, I think, to get a lens replacement. If everything goes OK, hopefully that could prolong my career for another four or five years. That's what I'm hoping anyway." Content cannot be displayed without consent But as his time at the Crucible drew to a close, Williams confessed to having doubts. He said: "I have been reading up and talking to people who have had it done and I've got to be honest, it is putting me off a bit. Article continues below "I've got a big decision to make. A couple of people I have spoken to, especially Anthony Hamilton at length, have said it is no good under the lights and it has ruined his career. It has sort of put me under pressure. After this is finished, it is something I am going to have to look more into."
Wales Online
05-05-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
Zhao Xintong wins enormous prize money and fellow players are really not happy
Zhao Xintong wins enormous prize money and fellow players are really not happy The Chinese star has become the first player from his country to lift the trophy at the Crucible Zhao Xintong has won the World Snooker Championship (Image: BBC ) Zhao Xintong has created history by becoming the first-ever Chinese snooker world champion and first amateur to win the tournament. The 28-year-old beat three-time world champ Mark Williams in a thrilling final at the Crucible in Sheffield, pocketing a cool £500,000 in the process. The event is likely to be huge news in China, with millions cheering him on in the showpiece finale against the Welsh Potting Machine. The World Championship win, the first ever by an amateur competitor, could go a long way to boosting the profile of the sport, and himself, in China and may will view the win as a huge moment for snooker. However, given the scandal in which he was recently embroiled, there are some within the sport who might have a different. Previously handed a 20-month suspension over match-fixing allegations, Zhao, the 2021 UK Championship winner, did not directly fix a match but confessed to being part of another player's scheme and betting on matches. Despite his stint away from professional snooker, he won back his place via the Q Tour and has become a regular competitor at the Crucible. This win over Williams has now launched him into the top 16, however tension is brewing among fellow competitors, who are reportedly "aggrieved" and feel it's unfair that Zhao's £500,000 World Championship winnings could count towards his ranking when he earned them as an amateur. During the final, BBC host Hazel Irvine brought up Zhao's controversial rise to World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association chairman Jason Ferguson, calling it "A big story but also a massive scandal in the sport." Article continues below In response, Ferguson acknowledged that the snooker authorities warmly embraced Zhao's return "with open arms", firmly stating that Zhao is entitled to keep those ranking points after reclaiming his tour card through the Q Tour, instead of achieving it in Sheffield. "It's important to talk about and he has served his time and he has paid his fine and actually he has followed a route of trying to work his way back in," noted Ferguson. "I think people will always refer to it but when you're young you might get pulled into things. But there is a route back and there is a route to return. From our point of view, he has done the right thing from day one and is welcomed back into the sport and will be a professional player again at the end of this World Championship." Zhao's prospect of regaining his Q Tour spot is under review, however, Irvine made the case that Zhao's triumph over Williams, which means he will break into the top 16, has effectively sidelined Ali Carter from exclusive events. She argued, "But he does dive into the top 16, which he would if he wins the title, somebody like Ali Carter in 16th place is obviously a little bit aggrieved that this might bump him out of some of the big events. You can see it from his perspective." To which Ferguson responded affirmatively, "Absolutely you can and there is another player who has worked very hard and had a great career, been out and is back in the top 16. Amazing really to think this scenario could even happen, I think we are all looking at it and thinking: 'Wow, what is happening here?' "But it does show how wide snooker is these days, you have the ability to go from zero to hero pretty quickly. We have created a system and broken down all the boundaries, where other sports have layers to their system." BBC pundit Ken Doherty expressed concerns about the brewing discontent among snooker professionals regarding Zhao's Crucible prize money and its impact on rankings. "The big question at this point is about the prize money," remarked the 1997 world champ. "A lot of players are a bit up in arms about it. The rules might have been changed, if he wins the Championship he keeps the prize money, when it should be going to scratch when he picks up his tour card." However, Ferguson responded to the debate by clarifying the situation around the controversial rule interpretation. "It is not actually a rule change, it is a scenario that has never happened before," he said. "Amateur players do enter events from time to time, as they come in, they play against professionals but they never break into the top 64 because they only come in for one or two events. "It is the first time we have actually seen this where someone has actually broken all the way through and earned enough points in a season. In that scenario, the case is that the player retains his ranking points because the player is deemed a professional player and joins the professional tour by retaining the top 64 position. Article continues below "So the places from the Q Tour is now a vacant place and the potential to top up there is available."
The Independent
05-05-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Mark Williams v Zhao Xintong LIVE: Williams tries to launch huge comeback in World Snooker Championship final
Mark Williams and Zhao Xintong will complete their compelling World Snooker Championship final at the Crucible today, after the Chinese star built a healthy 11-6 lead overnight. At 50 years of age, Williams is the oldest Crucible finalist in history as he tries to claim a fourth world title, 25 years after his first. Meanwhile, Zhao is 22 years his junior and the 28-year-old is the youngest World Championship finalist since 2011, trying to become the first Chinese world champion The younger man showed no sign of nerves in the opening session on Sunday afternoon as he played the more consistent snooker to build a 7-1 lead, with Williams unable to get out of the starting blocks. The Welshman showed his trademark fight on Sunday evening and eventually won the session 5-4 to close the gap slightly at 11-6 but no player has ever successfully overcome an overnight deficit of five frames or more in the world final. Williams's poor eyesight has caused him to claim he is playing 'half-blind' while Zhao is somewhat of a controversial figure as he competes at this World Championship as an amateur after recently returning from a ban for being party to match-fixing in snooker. Zhao Xintong takes control of the battle for snooker history in World Championship final Whoever wins the 2025 World Snooker Championship will be making history. We'll have either the oldest world champion or the first Chinese world champion and both would be huge for the sport. If day one of the best-of-35 final at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield is anything to go by, then come Tuesday morning, there will be one hell of a party on the streets of Xi'an –hometown of Zhao Xintong – while Ronnie O'Sullivan's record of lifting the title as a 47-year-old back in 2022 will remain unbeaten. That's because Zhao put on a snooker clinic to lead Mark Williams 11-6 overnight, as he ruthlessly raced into a 7-1 lead during Sunday afternoon's opening session before Williams fought back somewhat in the evening to win the session 5-4 but still trail by a healthy margin. In the history of world finals, no one has ever overturned a deficit of five frames or more overnight to triumph at the end of day two but if anyone can, perhaps it's the Welsh Potting Machine. Zhao Xintong takes control of battle for snooker history in World Championship final Zhao Xintong built an impressive 11-6 overnight lead against Mark Williams as he tries to become the first Chinese world champion Luke Baker5 May 2025 10:05 World Snooker Championship prize money The winner will receive £500,000 and there is total prize fund of £2,395,000. Winner: £500,000 Runner-up: £200,000 Semi-finalists: £100,000 Quarter-finalists: £50,000 Last 16: £30,000 Last 32: £20,000 Last 48: £15,000 Last 80: £10,000 Last 112: £5,000 Luke Baker5 May 2025 10:03 Everything you need to know about the World Championship final The World Snooker Championship has reached its climax at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield with the 2025 final the only match left to be played at the iconic venue. Veteran Welshman Mark Williams has made it to the showpiece at the age of 50, becoming the oldest Crucible finalist in history, where controversial Chinese star Zhao Xintong will be his opponent – competing as an amateur, fresh from returning from a ban for being party to match-fixing in snooker. Here's everything you need to know: World Snooker Championship 2025: Results, draw and final schedule in full Zhao Xintong and Mark Williams square off in snooker's showpiece Luke Baker5 May 2025 10:01 Today's schedule at the Crucible Two sessions to go at the Crucible, here's when they are Monday 5 May Final (best of 35 frames) 13:00 Zhao Xintong 11-6 Mark Williams - Session 3 of 4 19:00 Zhao Xintong v Mark Williams - Session 4 of 4 Luke Baker5 May 2025 10:00 World Snooker Championship final Welcome to The Independent's coverage of the second and final day of the 2025 World Snooker Championship final. Zhao Xintong, trying to become the first Chinese world champion, holds an 11-6 overnight lead against the oldest finalist in Crucible history, Mark Williams. Luke Baker5 May 2025 09:58
Wales Online
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Mark Williams has crowd in stitches as referee left red-faced and commentator says 'behave yourself'
Mark Williams has crowd in stitches as referee left red-faced and commentator says 'behave yourself' The Welshman is competing in the final of the World Snooker Championship against Zhao Xintong World Snooker Championship final referee Desislava Bozhilova smiling after Mark Williams played a practical joke on her (Image: BBC ) Despite Mark Williams being embroiled in the heat of battle at the Crucible Theatre, he rarely misses a chance to show off his jovial side. The Welsh Potting Machine hadn't been on fire in the first four frames of the World Championship final against Zhao Xintong, going into the mid-session interval trailing 3-1. However, the 50-year-old ensured his spirits were not dampened by the relatively poor start. Indeed, he took an opportunity to play a practical joke on referee Desislava Bozhilova in the first frame back from the mini break. Finding himself snookered from a colour after potting an opening red, Williams had to play off a cushion in order to drop on a black at the bottom of the pack. Lining the ball up, Bozhilova asked Williams to nominate which colour he was attempting to hit, to which Williams replied: "Yellow." Clearly, Williams was not aiming for the yellow, which was almost impossible to hit from where Williams was situated, but Bozhilova announced to the crowd, "Yellow ball." Williams then shook his head and said, "Black!", as Bozhilova laughed before correcting herself and telling the audience that Williams was indeed going for the black ball. Article continues below Mark Williams was aiming for the black ball off the bottom cushion (Image: BBC ) Dennis Taylor, the BBC commentator, burst out laughing before saying: "Behave yourself, Mark!" "That's a typical Mark Williams moment," Taylor added. "He was asked to nominate a colour and said 'Yellow', when he was always going to play the black." Fortunately, Bozhilova saw the funny side of it and was shown smiling on the camera seconds later. For the 32-year-old, refereeing the final is a dream come true. "I am really excited, it was an amazing feeling when I was given the news," she told World Snooker. Article continues below "It is what I have worked towards for many years, it has been my dream. It will be different to any other final because of the atmosphere at the Crucible. "Since I started working in snooker, I have learned everything from the more experienced referees," she added. "They give advice and tell us how to improve. There is a lot of teamwork, and we support each other,"
