Mark Williams ends 43-year record to make snooker history as he thrashes Shaun Murphy

Mark Williams has become the oldest ranked event winner in snooker with victory over Shaun Murphy at the Xi’an Grand Prix.

The three-time world champion won 10-3 in the final on Monday and has banked £177,000 in prize money.

Williams made two centuries and eight other breaks over 50 in what was a dominant performance against Masters champion Murphy.

He led 7-1 at the end of the afternoon session before taking the fifth frame in the evening to be crowned champion.

His triumph saw him make snooker history too, as the Welshman won at the record age of 50 years and 206 days.

Williams has surpassed his compatriot Ray Reardon, who won the Professional Players Tournament in 1982 aged 50 years and 14 days.

Furthermore, he is the first player to win a tour event during his teen years, 20s, 30s, 40s and 50s.

The 2025 Xi’an Grand Prix is his 27th ranking title and puts him sixth in the all-time list.

Williams is one behind Steve Davis, with Ronnie O’Sullivan sitting top on 41 titles.

Road to 27 ranking titles for Williams

A home appearance at the 1996 Welsh Open saw Williams win his first ranking event final, before Grand Prix success later in the year.

British Open, Irish Open, a second Welsh Open, Thailand Masters and UK Championship titles followed before the turn of the century.

Williams made seven appearances in finals throughout 2000, with his three wins including the World Snooker Championship.

He won his 15th title towards the end of 2003 with a third Grand Prix triumph after another world title, although his success began to slow.

Williams won only two of his five finals in the early 2010s, with a 2011 German Masters victory followed by the 2017 Northern Ireland Open.

However, a third world title was won the following year, as well as the German Masters and World Open.

A further two British Open titles came between 2021 and 2023, and the 2024 Tour Championship was his last victory before Monday.

He reached the World Snooker Championship final earlier this year, but lost 12-18 to Zhao Xintong.

Williams has now played in a total of 44 ranking finals, with the 2025 Northern Ireland Open the next such event in the calendar.