Mark Williams hit the bar for a well-earned few drinks after his World Snooker Championship final defeat by Zhao Xintong.
The Welshman was denied a fourth title at the Crucible on Monday night to follow his trio of successes in 2000, 2003 and 2018, despite a last-gasp rally that briefly raised hopes of a potentially historic comeback.
Williams - who, at 50, overtook the late Ray Reardon from 1982 as the oldest-player ever to reach the final - was in top form to win the first four frames of the final evening session including stylish breaks of 101, 96 and 73, but ultimately could not sustain that momentum.
Zhao went into the fourth and final session needing just one more frame for glory and eventually sealed it with a composed break of 87, wrapping up an 18-12 triumph as he made history as snooker’s first-ever Chinese world champion and first from Asia.
Zhao had led 17-8 on Monday afternoon after continuing the dominance that had seen him secure a commanding 11-6 overnight advantage, having also demolished Williams’ fellow ‘Class of 92’ member - and seven-time world champion - Ronnie O’Sullivan 17-7 in a one-sided semi-final that included an 8-0 session whitewash.
The 28-year-old became the first amateur to win snooker’s greatest prize having only last year returned from a 20-month suspension, and just the third qualifier after the late Terry Griffiths in 1979 and Shaun Murphy in 2005.
"What a potter he is," Williams said afterwards. "I am glad I will be too old when he is dominating.
"I have got nothing but admiration for what he has done, coming through the qualifiers, hasn’t played for two years, bashed Ronnie [O’Sullivan] up, bashed me up, bashed everybody up.
"What can you say? There is a new superstar of the game."
thanks for all thensupport heblast 17 days, tome forncouoke guinessesss now . #seeyouallnexraeason pic.twitter.com/DMzSt4rzeI
— MARK WILLIAMS M.B.E (@markwil147) May 5, 2025
It was still another successful tournament for snooker legend Williams, who pocketed £200,000 as runner-up and won epic matches against both reigning world No1 Judd Trump and Class of 92 rival John Higgins en route to his fifth Crucible final.
He also outlasted both Wu Yize and Hossein Vafaei during 17 gruelling and memorable days in Sheffield, earning a drink or two as he commiserated after losing the showpiece for only the second time.
last one im off to bed pic.twitter.com/OuCsQR4G2f
— MARK WILLIAMS M.B.E (@markwil147) May 5, 2025
Williams posted pictures of himself on social media in the bar following the defeat by Zhao, drinking a couple of pints of Guinness and then sharing a snap of a tray of shots past midnight along with the caption: “Last one, I’m off to bed.”
look at this lucky little xxxxxx i bunped into. pic.twitter.com/xF1wuWIucQ
— MARK WILLIAMS M.B.E (@markwil147) May 5, 2025
Williams also posted a picture of himself playfighting backstage with Zhao who held the trophy, joking: “Look at this lucky little xxxxxx i bumped into.”
