Mark Williams advanced to the last 16 of the UK Championship on Sunday evening with a 6–4 victory over David Gilbert, though the three-time world champion’s progress was punctuated by a rare flash of irritation following an uncharacteristic miss.
The Welshman, who remains one of the sport’s most consistent performers at 50, produced another accomplished display to overturn an early deficit and secure his place in the second round.
Williams had fallen 2-1 behind after a strong start from Gilbert, who compiled two century breaks during the match, including one that briefly threatened a late fightback.
But from 2-1 down, Williams strung together four consecutive frames with typical efficiency, shifting the momentum decisively in his favour.
TRENDING
Stories
Videos
Your Say
Though Gilbert narrowed the margin with his second ton, Williams closed out the match in a composed 10th frame to complete the 6-4 victory.
However, the performance was not without its frustrations.
During the fourth frame, while still trailing 2-1, Williams missed a routine pot and responded by thumping his cue against the floor, a rare outburst from a player generally known for his composure.
Five quirky facts about snooker | PAHe then turned to the audience and jokingly mimed throwing the cue into the crowd before returning to his seat, drawing a ripple of laughter around the York Barbican as Gilbert prepared to play.
Asked afterwards whether the moment of levity helped settle him, Williams was blunt in his assessment.
“I was still swearing to myself 10 minutes after that,” he said.
LATEST SPORTS NEWS:
- Pool player sues governing body after wearing body camera following threats from trans activists
- Max Verstappen gives himself new nickname after setting up mouthwatering F1 finale with Qatar GP win
- Ben Stokes and two other England players risk trouble with Australian police just days before Ashes Test
Mark Williams remains a formidable force on the snooker circuit | PA“After the interval, we both played quite well. It could have been five-five. I’m happy to have got that last frame.”
Williams felt the quality of the match improved considerably after the mid-session break.
“Much better after the interval,” he said.
“Before the interval, it was like watching [Stephen] Hendry play [Steve] Davis. After the interval, it was quite good stuff from both of us.”
The victory extends Williams’s strong run of form in a season that has already seen him lift ranking silverware and produce some of the finest snooker of his later career.
Mark Williams has been in fine form in 2025 despite his eye issues | PAHis tactical assurance and break-building continue to shine through, though he has openly acknowledged frustrations with his eyesight in recent months.
Even so, his ability to raise the standard when it matters was evident once again during the crucial final exchanges against Gilbert.
With the win, Williams moves into the last 16, maintaining his bid for a fourth UK Championship title more than two decades after he first lifted the trophy.
Whether he can go all the way remains to be seen.