Mark Williams’ recent victory over Wu Yize at the World Snooker Championship has bolstered confidence in the Welshman’s ability to contend for major titles, even at the age of 50, according to analysis of current tournament prospects.
Williams defeated Wu 10-8 on Sunday, advancing to the last 16, while Neil Robertson lost to Chris Wakelin 10-8 after a fightback. Elsewhere, Hossein Vafaei edged out Barry Hawkins 10-9 in a closely contested match. These results occurred following the earlier shock exit of defending champion Kyren Wilson to Lei Peifan.
Analysts are noting Williams’ strong head-to-head record against Barry Hawkins, standing at 19-6, as a potential advantage in future matches. The assessment suggests Williams’ tactical acumen could neutralize Hawkins’ strengths. However, Judd Trump presents a more formidable challenge, having previously defeated Williams in high-stakes competitions, including a Saudi Arabian event in 2024 where Trump executed a remarkable clearance under pressure.
Despite past struggles against Trump, Williams demonstrated his capability by defeating him 17-14 in the semi-final of last year’s World Championship, outscoring and outplaying his opponent. This victory underscores the continued strength of his game, even as Trump remains the favored contender in their section, currently priced at 4/6 compared to Williams’ 4/1.
Elsewhere in the tournament, Mark Allen is considered overpriced at 11/8 against Wu Yize. Allen’s win percentage this season exceeds Wu’s, despite both players having secured tournament victories. Wu defeated Allen in a deciding frame in Berlin last year, but Allen had previously beaten him 6-4 in the UK Championship in 2024. The tighter pockets anticipated in early UK event matches are thought to favor Allen’s style of play.
The UK Championship 2025 schedule shows Barry Hawkins previously defeated David Lilley 6-4 on December 3rd. Mark Williams lost to Pang Junxu 3-6 on the same day. Neil Robertson defeated Wu Yize 6-1 on December 7th, while Judd Trump beat Si Jiahui 6-3.
