Williams is one of snooker's greatest ever players but eyesight issues have hampered the 50-year-old during the season
Sport Fraser Clarke Sport Trends Writer 15:59, 20 Apr 2025
Ken Doherty admits he can't get his head around how well Mark Williams is playing – despite the veteran struggling to see.
The Welsh Potting Machine admitted earlier in the season that his vision is deteriorating, and he's struggled playing with both glasses and contact lenses.
Snooker icon Williams, who turned 50 in March, is set for laser eye surgery following the World Championships at the Crucible, but his potting against Chinese youngster Wu Yize blew away 1997 world champ Doherty.
Speaking on the BBC he said: "It's quite incredible that he's still doing it in the game. What an enigma and a character. He has his own innate way of break building.
"He just goes around, picks them off beautifully. It's a little bit different to a John Higgins, Ronnie O'Sullivan or a Judd Trump. But he cherry picks them so eloquently and beautifully with great cue ball control.
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"Maybe his his long game is not as good as it once was years ago, but when he gets in amongst them he knows how to score. He says, if you miss then I'm going to pounce and score."
Doherty was then asked about the impact of Williams' eyesight, with presenter Hazel Irvine saying: "He's tried the contact lenses and the glasses, that's not working for him.
"But just to be able to still produce this when he is, in effect, second guessing cue ball and object ball to whatever pocket he's in."
Doherty continued: "That just makes it all the more remarkable, doesn't it? I don't know how he does it. Hit the small ball into the big pocket and you'll be alright!
"Along with the other two lads, to be able to keep doing it at his age is quite phenomenal. He's been an incredible talent over the years and he's still going."
Before the game Williams himself said: "I'm over the moon to get back here. I've been pro since I was 17, that's 33 years ago. And somehow I'm back here again and fifth or sixth in the world ranking. It's unbelievable really. I don't know how but I'm still going.
"About 10 years ago I went down to about 47th in the world and it looked like I'd drop off the tour. 10/15 years on I'm in the top five or six. It's incredible. I'd never have thought I'd still be here.
"I've had an excellent season, at 49 I won a trophy. I can't ask for anymore. I've been trying to play with contacts in, it's brilliant when I can see everything clear as a bell.
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"But I can't really see the cue ball properly. I've tried with them in and out and lost with both.
"But in practice I'm hitting it really nicely. And how funny would it be if I ended up winning this tournament and two weeks later I'm in for lens replacement. What do I do then?"
BBCMark Williams (snooker)World Snooker ChampionshipsSnooker
