‘I will punch you’ – Stephen Hendry says snooker great Mark Williams is ‘deadly serious’ about bizarre phobia.

‘I will punch you’ – Stephen Hendry says snooker great Mark Williams is ‘deadly serious’ about bizarre phobia.

 

 

 

Veteran snooker legend Stephen Hendry has revealed that fellow great Mark Williams has an unusual and surprisingly intense fear — and that his reaction to it might shock fans of the sport.

Hendry, a seven-time world champion and long-time friend and rival of Williams, made the revelation on the WST Snooker Club podcast, where he discussed Williams’s strong aversion to teabags — something the Welshman reportedly cannot stand.

The phobia came to light last week during BBC coverage of the Welsh Open, when Williams, 50, was in the studio as an expert pundit. Host Catrin Heledd mentioned his odd fear on air, prompting laughter and disbelief from those watching and from Williams himself, who exclaimed: “I can’t believe you said it live on air.”

Speaking about the revelation with his trademark dry humour, Hendry admitted he has known about Williams’s phobia for some time and taunts him about it — most often when the pair are playing golf together. In jest, Hendry says he keeps teabags ready to spring on Williams just as the Welshman prepares to putt.

“I’ll have a couple in the bag when he’s ready to putt,” Hendry laughed. But he also stressed that Williams means business when it comes to his fear.

Hendry quoted Williams as warning him: “Be prepared, because I will punch you.”

The seven-time major champion described his friend’s reaction as “so weird, and he’s deadly serious about it”, admitting that Williams doesn’t even drink tea, coffee, or any hot drinks — raising further questions about where the aversion originally came from.

Despite the clear warning, Hendry teased that he might one day go through with his prank — partly out of revenge for past antics Williams has pulled on him over the years.

The pair have a long and celebrated history on the snooker circuit, with Williams often known by his nickname “The Welsh Potting Machine” for his relaxed demeanour and prolific scoring during his peak playing years.

Williams has collected three World Championship titles in his career, making him one of the most successful players of his generation. Hendry’s own dominance in the 1990s and status as one of the sport’s all-time greats only adds colour to their friendship and friendly rivalries off the table.

The revelations come amid coverage of the 2026 Welsh Open, where Williams was recently knocked out in the Last 16 by Barry Hawkins.

Fans on social media have reacted with amusement to the story, with many highlighting the contrast between Williams’s tough reputation on the snooker table — where he built a career on precision and calm under pressure — and his surprising discomfort around something as mundane as teabags.

Whether Hendry ever dares to follow through with his golf prank remains to be seen — but his friend’s humorous yet firm threat certainly adds a bizarre new anecdote to snooker lore.