World Snooker Championship 2025: Mark Williams Desperate for Dream Quarterfinal Clash with John Higgins

Mark Williams rolled back the years to reach his 12th World Snooker Championship quarterfinal, seeing off Iran’s Hossein Vafaei 13-10 at the Crucible.

The Welsh Potting Machine, who turned 50 last month, still firmly believes he can “do damage to most” in this year's tournament — but admits he is concerned about his deteriorating eyesight, which has become a real issue in recent months.

Williams revealed after his win that his vision has "deteriorated quite badly" over the last six months, leaving everything he sees, from the balls to the scoreboard, "blurry." In a bid to extend his glittering career, he has booked lens replacement surgery for June.

Returning Positivity After Unusual Battle

Despite the challenges, Williams said he finally felt positive about his game again. In an unusual match that saw an extraordinary seven re-racks — a rarity in professional snooker — Williams relished the battle out on the baize and is excited for what lies ahead.

“I thought it was a funny game because a lot of frames could have gone either way," Williams said. "We had seven re-racks which is unheard of.”

“I made a lot of really good breaks. I missed a few easy ones, but that’s what I do.”

With victory over Vafaei, Williams becomes the oldest World Championship quarterfinalist since Steve Davis in 2010, who reached that stage at the age of 52.

Dream Quarterfinal Against John Higgins?

Awaiting Williams in the last eight could be a mouthwatering clash with fellow Class of '92 great John Higgins, who leads China's Xiao Guodong 12-11 heading into the conclusion of their match later this evening.

Williams, who typically avoids looking too far ahead in tournaments, made no secret of how much he is hoping for a battle with Higgins.

“I would love John [Higgins] to win tonight, I really would,” he said.

“The occasion, and where we are in our careers. I just think it’d be a fabulous occasion.”

Williams and Higgins last met in Saudi Arabia at the World Masters Invitational, but it’s their 2022 Masters quarterfinal at Alexandra Palace that Williams recalls most fondly — an iconic clash played in front of a raucous crowd.

“The reception we’d have going in, it’d be unbelievable. Probably like the Masters when we played a couple years ago,” Williams said.

“It’s something I really, really would like to play in, that atmosphere again. I am really rooting for John.”

“Come on the old boys,” he grinned.