Mark Williams has launched a blistering attack on British Airways after being quoted a six-figure fee to alter his return flight from China following a surprise run to the final of the Xi’an Grand Prix.
The three-time world champion, who reached the final in Xi’an on Sunday, revealed on social media that the carrier wanted £12,000 to move his ticket by just two days, prompting him to vow to fly with another airline in future.
Williams, 50, was due to fly home on Monday but his progress to the showpiece has forced him to change plans.
The veteran from Wales has already secured a guaranteed purse of £76,000 and can more than double that sum to £177,000 if he lifts the trophy in Monday’s final.
It was the prospect of a sizeable slice of prize money being eaten up by travel costs that appeared to exacerbate his frustration.
Williams wrote on X: “Nice airline @BritishAirways. 12k to change my flight from tomorrow to Wednesday, time to start flying with a different airline.
“WTF do they get the prices from?”
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Nice airline. @British_Airways 12k to change my flight from tomox too Wednesday, time to start flying with a different airline, wtf do they get the prices from, #12 thousand pouvdsforinewaycgsbfeiskaughsvoeble
— MARK WILLIAMS M.B.E (@markwil147) October 12, 2025
The outburst adds to a running conversation about the cost and flexibility of international travel for sportspeople, many of whom must make last-minute arrangements when tournaments extend beyond initial expectations.
For lower profile players travel bills can represent a significant portion of earnings, but even for a player of Williams’ stature the £12,000 fee was deemed excessive.
Airlines routinely charge change penalties and fare differences, but the public reaction to Williams’ post reflected growing irritation with what fans and athletes regard as punitive surcharges.
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Mark Williams will be hoping to make snooker history on Monday
|GETTY
On the table, beyond the argument about flights, is the chance for Williams to create snooker history.
A victory in Xi’an would make him the oldest winner of a ranking event, surpassing Ray Reardon who won the Professional Players Tournament in 1982 aged 50 years and 14 days.
Williams was, however, at pains to play down the significance of that statistic.
“Being the oldest? That’s not really a record, is it? If I did manage to win it, Ronnie O’Sullivan or John Higgins will probably beat it in a few months’ time anyway,” he said.
“It’s nice to be in the final, and if I can win a tournament, it’d be great. It’s great that I’m still somehow doing it.”
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Mark Williams has been in fine form in China
|REUTERS
The veteran produced a high break of 129 in a 6-3 semi-final victory over compatriot Daniel Wells, a display that underlined his enduring class despite the passage of time.
Williams joked about his priorities and appetite for success.
“If you’d given me the quarters before I came out, I’d have bitten your hand off. If you had given me the final, I’d have bitten your whole body off,” he said.
Williams will meet either Shaun Murphy or Gary Wilson in the final on Monday.