Williams Reaches 70th Ranking Semi-Final — But Admits He'd Rather Have Faced Anyone Else
The Pick: Back Williams to Win the English Open
Mark Williams is our selection to lift the English Open title at the Brentwood Centre. At whatever price you can still secure ahead of the semi-finals, the three-time world champion represents genuine value — a seasoned operator who is visibly hitting top gear at precisely the right moment in the draw.
The Analysis
There are feel-good stories in snooker, and then there are those moments that remind you just how extraordinary this sport's older guard truly is. Mark Williams, 51 years old and apparently showing no signs of reading the script that says veterans should be fading quietly into the background, powered past fellow Welshman Liam Davies 6-3 on Friday evening to book his place in the last four of the English Open — the 70th ranking event semi-final of his remarkable career.
The match had a genuinely poignant backdrop. Davies, just 20 years old and fresh off one of the results of the season — a stunning quarter-final defeat of world champion Wu Yize — came into the contest full of confidence and with nothing to lose. He's a Q School graduate from May, still learning his trade on the main tour, and the opening four frames suggested this might go the distance, with the pair sharing them evenly. But then Williams did what Williams does: he turned the screw. Three breaks — 63, 95, and a composed 112 in the final frame — gave the veteran a comfortable winning margin after the interval and confirmed his place in the semis.
That century, incidentally, was Williams' 700th on the World Snooker Tour — a milestone that underlines just how enduring his contribution to the professional game has been. He also moves to within two victories of a 28th ranking title, a number that would place him even further into the pantheon of the sport's all-time greats. Remarkably, no player older than Williams has reached a ranking semi-final since 1986 — context that makes Friday's performance all the more staggering.
Yet the man himself couldn't bring himself to fully celebrate. In a candid post-match interview with World Snooker Tour, Williams revealed that beating Davies gave him little pleasure — because not so long ago, the pair were playing together for small change at a local club in Wales, alongside another rising Welsh talent, Jackson Page.
"It's not long ago — only a couple of years ago — when me, him, and Jackson were in a club playing points," Williams said. "The three of us were playing against each other for 5p a point. Look, if I never play Liam or Jackson again, I'd be more than happy. I'd rather play Trump, Kyren, or everyone. I'm at that stage now where I want to see them get on and see them win tournaments. I'd rather beat anybody else."
It's a remarkable quote — self-aware, generous, and quietly revealing about where Williams sees himself in the sport's broader story. He knows he's in the final chapter. He just refuses to let anyone write it for him yet.
The Semi-Final: Williams vs Murphy
Standing between Williams and a place in the final is Shaun Murphy, who produced his own drama on Friday by edging out Judd Trump 6-5 in a match that had everything — big breaks, unforced errors, and a nervy final frame settled by Murphy's decisive contribution of 67. It was a gripping contest, and Murphy will arrive in the semi-finals full of belief having knocked out the world number one.
The head-to-head record between Williams and Murphy is broadly level across their careers, though Williams has historically had the upper hand in the more recent meetings. Murphy is no pushover — he remains one of the most technically accomplished players on tour — but Williams' current form and momentum make him the pick here.
The Odds
| Market | Selection | Bet365 | William Hill | Paddy Power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English Open Winner | Mark Williams | 6/4 | 13/8 | 7/4 |
| SF: Williams vs Murphy | Williams to Win | 8/11 | 4/6 | 8/11 |
| SF: Williams vs Murphy | Murphy to Win | 11/8 | 6/4 | 5/4 |
Odds correct at time of writing. Always shop around for the best price — a few pence difference in fractional odds adds up over a tournament.
Best bet: Williams to win the English Open at 7/4 with Paddy Power. If you prefer match betting, Williams at 8/11 to beat Murphy is a solid single with genuine reasoning behind it — not just market drift.
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